WVU Medicine Center for Nursing Education receives more than 650 applications for initial cohort

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Medicine Center for Nursing Education (CNE) received more than 650 applications for its initial 24-student cohort, which will begin classes in August 2025.

“When you launch a new program, you hope it will be well received, but we could not have anticipated the outpouring of interest in our new Center for Nursing Education,” Melanie Heuston, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., chief nursing executive for the WVU Health System, said. “We are thrilled that so many people want to pursue an education and career in nursing with us, and we look forward to welcoming our first class to campus.” 

For the initial application period, which was open from Aug. 15 to Oct. 1, the CNE received a total of 653 applicants. They hail from 20 states and five foreign countries. The average applicant is approximately 26 years old, however, more than 60 are between 40 and 57 years old.

From an educational standpoint, 78 applicants have completed their bachelor’s degree, while 13 applicants hold a master’s degree. Nearly half of the applicants are the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education. More than 70 percent of the applicants have previous healthcare experience. 

“We are really impressed with the diversity in age, education, and experience represented in our initial applicant pool,” Tanya Rogers, Ed.D., M.S.N., R.N., C.N.E., assistant vice president of nursing education, said. “With so many well-qualified candidates, we anticipate our first class being able to hit the ground running in their first post-graduation jobs.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 194,500 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.”

The BLS also reports that “demand for healthcare services will increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people. Registered nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.”

This is of particular concern in West Virginia, which has the fifth oldest population in the country and is ranked in the top five for highest rates of diabetes and obesity. 

The national nursing shortage and the ever-increasing demand for healthcare services in the state and region were the impetus for establishing the CNE.

It is a state-of-the-art, hospital-based nursing school and registered nursing diploma program housed at the WVU Innovation Corporation.

Students enrolled in the 21-month program (potentially 18 months for LPNs) will be provided a full tuition waiver, free books, and extensive support services in exchange for a three-year bedside employment commitment at a WVU Medicine hospital.

The program features one-on-one academic support services and intensive clinical experiences to prepare students for nursing program success and an easy transition into nursing practice.

The West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses accepted the CNE new program application and approved it with provisional approval on March 8.

“As the academic medical center of the state’s land-grant university, we are charged with making sure we provide West Virginians with the healthcare they need where they need it. That is why we created our hub-and-spoke model Health System to bring people high-quality care close to their homes. To continue to do that, we need to train the next generation of healthcare professionals, especially nurses. The CNE will allow us to do just that,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said. 

“We are grateful to the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses for recognizing the need to get new nurses into the pipeline to help address the national nursing shortage. We appreciate their support in championing this effort.”

First-round admissions decisions are expected next month.

For more information on the WVU Medicine Center for Nursing Education, click here.