Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Awarded $571,442 through West Virginia’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program

Media Contact
Zachary Crooms
304.279.0891

zcrooms@blueridgectc.edu

 

Martinsburg, WV. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College has been awarded $571,442 through West Virginia’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program, which is designed to address the state’s nursing shortage through a multifaceted approach to attract, train, and retain nurses in the Mountain State.

Representing a fundamental part of this approach, an award program was established three years ago to fund nursing program expansion projects at colleges, universities, schools of nursing, and career technical education centers across West Virginia.

With the help of this award, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s ASN Nursing Program plans to continue to support the students and the nursing faculty through increased enrollment. With this increased enrollment, it is the nursing program’s intent to graduate more entry-level nurses in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Continued support of nursing education and workforce development is essential and the grant will invest in the future of healthcare. The students will be gaining significant opportunities within the laboratory and the simulation areas within Blue Ridge CTC.

Per the Director of Nursing at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Angela Seibel, this grant will help to enhance our nursing program to serve our community better.

For the third year of the program, twenty-three grant awards were distributed to nursing programs statewide. Funded projects build upon progress made in the first two years and are focused on increasing enrollment in pre-licensure nursing programs, timely degree completion, and licensure for graduates.

Since its launch, West Virginia’s Nursing Workforce Expansion Program has helped yield a nearly 25 percent increase in filled seats at nursing programs across the state.

The nursing program expansion awards, made possible by funding from the West Virginia Legislature, are administered by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System.

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs, as well as workforce development training.  Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is conveniently located on Route 45 West past the Commons Center, at 13650 Apple Harvest Drive. For more information about Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, please call 304-260-4380 or visit our website at www.BlueRidgeCTC.edu.