Makenna Brown (left) and Devon Edward (right) hold up their "future nurse" jerseys at a ceremony honoring them for receiving the Aspiring Nurse Award.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — WVU Tech celebrated the achievements of nursing students Devon Edwards and Makenna Brown during the Aspiring Nurse Awards Ceremony, an event recognizing their selection for the prestigious Aspiring Nurse Program at WVU Medicine. The program offers both financial and mentorship support to aspiring nurses in West Virginia.
"The Aspiring Nurse Program is a win-win for students and patients alike," said Dr. Tara Hulsey, Dean and Jane Martin Endowed Professor at the WVU School of Nursing. "As the highest entry-level degree into the nursing field, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree prepares our Beckley Campus graduates with the knowledge and skills they need to provide excellent patient care throughout southern West Virginia. As we continue to combat the nursing shortage, the WVU School of Nursing aims to provide our hospitals with the baccalaureate-prepared nurses needed for the best patient outcomes possible."
As part of the program, Edwards will join Summersville Regional Medical Center, while Brown will begin her career at Braxton County Memorial Hospital. The Aspiring Nurse Program offers up to $25,000 in financial support to nursing students over the course of their studies, with a final payment upon hire in exchange for a three-year work commitment to WVU Medicine after graduation.
The program, which is open to nursing students in West Virginia and neighboring regions. Each participant is paired with a local liaison from WVU Medicine to offer mentorship and guidance during their time in nursing school and as they transition into their roles as registered nurses.
Edwards and Brown will join the ranks of nurses working to address the region's healthcare needs as part of WVU Medicine’s efforts to alleviate the ongoing nursing shortage.