WVU School of Nursing and BridgeValley Establish Innovative Nursing Partnership

The West Virginia University (WVU) School of Nursing and BridgeValley Community and Technical College have announced an innovative partnership to help nursing students in West Virginia earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees through a pioneering 3-1 pathway program. Set to launch in Fall 2024, this first-of-its-kind collaboration in the state aims to address the nursing shortage by providing a streamlined and affordable path to a BSN degree.

Under the new partnership, BridgeValley students can complete their two-year associate degree, take the NCLEX licensure exam to become registered nurses, and then spend their first year in the WVU Nursing RN to BSN program while still enrolled at BridgeValley. For their final year, students will enroll with WVU to complete the remainder of the curriculum fully online and earn their BSN degree from West Virginia University.

Why this matters: This partnership provides a more affordable and accessible pathway for students in central and southern West Virginia to become baccalaureate-prepared nurses. Increasing the number of nurses with BSN degrees can lead to improved patient outcomes, more career opportunities, and higher income levels for nurses in the state.

The WVU School of Nursing's RN to BSN program was recently ranked the No. 1 program in the state by RNtoMSN.org. By completing three years of the four-year program at the community college tuition rate, students can save on the overall cost of their education while still graduating with a highly respected BSN degree from WVU.

"This partnership with BridgeValley Community and Technical College is an excellent opportunity for students in central and southern West Virginia," said Tara Hulsey, dean of the WVU School of Nursing. "We are excited to work with BridgeValley to help students achieve their goal of earning a BSN degree and to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the state."

BridgeValley students interested in the 3-1 pathway program can enroll starting in Fall 2024. The partnership between WVU School of Nursing and BridgeValley Community and Technical College represents a meaningful advancement in addressing the nursing shortage in West Virginia by providing a more accessible and affordable path to a BSN degree. With the launch of this pioneering program, both institutions are demonstrating their commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and supporting the nursing workforce in the state.

Key Takeaways

• WVU and BridgeValley announce 3-1 BSN pathway program launching in Fall 2024.
• Students can complete 2-year associate, take NCLEX, then 1 year RN-to-BSN at BridgeValley.
• Final year fully online at WVU to earn BSN, providing affordable path to BSN degree.
• Partnership aims to address nursing shortage by increasing baccalaureate-prepared nurses.
• WVU's RN-to-BSN program ranked #1 in WV, offering respected BSN from WVU.