BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Raleigh General Hospital announced Monday plans to combat the ongoing nursing crisis through a collaborative initiative with West Virginia Junior College for the establishment of the WVJC School of Nursing at Raleigh General.
The partnership will see the strategic alignment of resources and working knowledge from the two entities to expand the nursing workforce throughout the state of West Virginia.
This new initiative will entail an 18-month program which includes elements tailored specifically to the culture and procedures of hospitals, a hybrid online delivery method, joint appointments for lab and clinical faculty, and scholarships tied to employment commitments upon graduation.
Open enrollment is planned to begin in September of this year, with the first classes set to begin in April, 2023.
“Our state’s healthcare system desperately needs more nurses, quickly,” Chad Callen, CEO of WVJC says. “This collaboration allows us to integrate our accelerated 18-month program directly into the hospital system, thereby increasing capacity, optimizing learning outcomes, and improving the student experience. The hybrid-online delivery method is essential to opening access to non-traditional students who cannot put life on hold to go to nursing school.”
Both Raleigh General and WVJC signed a letter of intent during an event Monday committing to the initiation of the collaborative nursing program.
The integration of the WVJC School of Nursing with Raleigh General Hospital will be the first step toward a broader workforce development partnership between the two entities.
“Raleigh General is always in need of a well-trained workforce to carry out our responsibility of providing the highest level of patient care, including a steady supply of nurses,” said Marsha Jamison, Chief Nursing Officer of Raleigh General Hospital. “Our collaboration with WVJC will integrate our two cultures to enhance the health of the communities we serve, one patient at a time.”
More information on the WVJC School of Nursing at Raleigh General can be found here at the WVJC website, and can also be attained by phone with a call to 877-25ONLINE.