WVU Medicine Camden Clark holds ceremony for nursing students
Brayden Whited was one of 27 nursing students from West Virginia University at Parkersburg who were inducted into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program through WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center. The students will receive financial assistance to be able to complete their education and then give the hospital a three-year work commitment in return. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
A group of 27 students were accepted into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. A signing ceremony was held Monday at the medical center for the students and their families. The hospital will help with financial assistance so the students can complete their education while also providing learning opportunities. In return, the students agree to work at the hospital for three years after graduating. (Photo Provided)
A signing ceremony was held Monday at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center for 27 West Virginia University at Parkersburg Nursing students for the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. Each student can receive up to $25,000 in financial support from WVU Medicine to be able to complete their education and then give Camden Clark a three-year work commitment when they are done. (Photo Provided)
West Virginia University at Parkersburg Nursing student Abigail Moore signs the papers to be brought into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program through WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center as Camden Clark’s Chief Nursing Officer Carol Grove looks on. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Brayden Whited was one of 27 nursing students from West Virginia University at Parkersburg who were inducted into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program through WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center. The students will receive financial assistance to be able to complete their education and then give the hospital a three-year work commitment in return. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
A group of 27 students were accepted into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. A signing ceremony was held Monday at the medical center for the students and their families. The hospital will help with financial assistance so the students can complete their education while also providing learning opportunities. In return, the students agree to work at the hospital for three years after graduating. (Photo Provided)
A signing ceremony was held Monday at WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center for 27 West Virginia University at Parkersburg Nursing students for the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. Each student can receive up to $25,000 in financial support from WVU Medicine to be able to complete their education and then give Camden Clark a three-year work commitment when they are done. (Photo Provided)
West Virginia University at Parkersburg Nursing student Abigail Moore signs the papers to be brought into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program through WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center as Camden Clark’s Chief Nursing Officer Carol Grove looks on. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- A group of West Virginia University at Parkersburg nursing students have made a commitment to WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in order to grow and learn as they work to become nurses.
A group of 27 students were accepted into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. A signing ceremony was held Monday at the medical center for the students and their families.
WVU-P was selected as one of the first two community colleges to participate in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program, with students to be partnered with Camden Clark. The students selected will complete clinical rotations at WVU Medicine Camden Clark to ensure they receive high quality, hands-on clinical immersion experiences to assist them as they transition to professional nursing practice.
"The Aspiring Nursing Program was created to support nursing students in a very holistic manner," said Jessica Huffman of the WVU Medicine Center for Nursing Excellence. "We talked a lot with our partners at WVU-P (and elsewhere) to see what is it that nursing students were needing.
"We found there was a lot of support for scholarship programs. We heard a lot of heartwarming stories from students that needed a little bit more to get by while they were in nursing school."
A group of 27 students were accepted into the inaugural group in the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program. A signing ceremony was held Monday at the medical center for the students and their families. The hospital will help with financial assistance so the students can complete their education while also providing learning opportunities. In return, the students agree to work at the hospital for three years after graduating. (Photo Provided)
The program was put together to support the students by providing up to $25,000 over the course of their schooling to help with things such as child care, tuition assistance or an investment in good shoes as many nurses walk up to a 5K during their shift.
"We are not dictating what the money goes towards as each student has individual needs," Huffman said. "We want to make sure we are supporting them.
"It is not just about the money, we are looking at the whole picture."
The students accepted include Marley Summers, Olivia Matlack, Braylin Tabor, Grace Packer, Paige Linville, Tyler Hartley, Malane Smith, Shelby Goodwin, Cassandra Boggess, Elizabeth Onuoha, Abby Moore, Joyce Eddy, Janae Longenecker, Carsen Hesson, Alexis Cooke, Logan Skurupey, Karlie Lockhart, Ashley Rankin, Adelie Lowe, Adrienne Blair, Brayden Whited, Haylee Brown, Haylie Polan, Jaden Garner, Lexi Gregory, Robert Phillips and Sierra Smith.
The WVU Medicine Center for Nursing Excellence established the Aspiring Nurse Program to provide day-to-day life expenses for nursing students to support their everyday needs. Each student accepted to the program will receive up to $25,000 over the course of four semesters including a sign-on bonus upon hire in exchange for a three-year work commitment following graduation. Students accepted to the WVU Medicine Aspiring Nurse Program will also receive support from academic success coaches and retention specialists.
"We are excited that you will be able to do your clinicals here at Camden Clark," Huffman said. "We feel like we have an excellent facility and state-of-the-art equipment.
"We think you are going to have a good experience with your clinicals. I think you will have amazing support throughout the rest of your educational journey."
Carol Grove, Camden Clark Chief Nursing Officer, said she was excited about the partnership with WVU-P.
"We are supporting a tremendous amount of people because we believe in you and we think this is absolutely the right thing to do," she said. "I am excited (the students) have chosen to join our team here."
WVU-P President Torie Jackson talked about the excitement and commitment of these students.
"You have such an opportunity to be successful with all of the people here to support you, not only at Camden, but also at WVU Parkersburg," she said. "Just knowing that people are here and they want you to succeed is very important.
"We are here to support you every step of the way."
Carsen Hesson is a first-year nursing student who has already completed four years of college. She was accepted into the Aspiring Nurse Program. She has worked at the hospital as a tech for three years and gained a lot of respect for many at the hospital, including her mother who is a nurse.
"I am really excited about this for me and my fellow classmates," she said. "This program helps where we need the help."
It is a commitment to the hospital in providing financial assistance to the students where the students give a three-year commitment to work at the hospital after they complete their schooling, Hesson said.
She believes the program will benefit all the participants in being able to finish their schooling by providing for some of the expenses they incur while working towards getting their degree.
"It would have been quite a struggle here and there to piece everything together," Hesson said. "This helps tremendously and I won't have to worry about that in addition to my school and course work."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com