The Junior Nursing Academy is offering students a chance to explore the world of nursing.
Sometimes a little practical experience is all that’s needed to create lifelong passions, and the Southern West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley is giving students exactly that.
The academy places eighth, ninth, and tenth grade students into skills labs, local hospitals, and college campuses where they get lessons on proper sterile procedures, learn how to take a patient’s vitals, and even become CPR-certified. Along the way, they’ll be guided by professional registered nurses who are willing and able to share their knowledge and insights into the nursing profession.
As a group, students travel to Beckley ARH Hospital, a long-standing community hospital in the now 70-year-old Appalachian Regional Healthcare system. They also get hands-on training at Raleigh General Hospital, a community-minded institution that treats upwards of 13,000 patients each year.
“This program provides us with an opportunity to inspire the next generation of nurses, paramedics, technicians, and physicians,” says Myra Rose, an RN and nurse educator at Beckley ARH Hospital. “These students will, one day in the not-too-distant future, be the ones caring for us.”
The Junior Nursing Academy is a two-day day camp taking place each June, with applications due in early March. It’s free for participants, including transportation for excursions, scrubs, and lunch. Completed applications are required, and students need a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and to submit a 1-page essay that covers their interest in nursing and attending the academy. To find out more, visit wvutech.edu/camps/nursing.
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