WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital and Bluefield State University hosts WV Junior Nursing Academy for incoming highschoolers

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) — Nursing is a career path that requires extensive education and dedication.

WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital and Bluefield State University came together to provide a glimpse into this field to middle schoolers in their Junior Nursing Academy.

Aimed at middle schoolers making the transition into high school, the West Virginia Junior Nursing Academy hosted eighth grade students who are interested in nursing as a possible career.

The Academy holds classes and tours at both WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital and Bluefield State University.

In charge of the Academy is Doctor Sandy Wynn, Director of the Associate Program of Nursing at BSU.

Doctor Wynn said the earlier these children are shown their options, the better.

“With so many of the things that are available for them now as far as pathways into nursing, a lot of them, they really need to start in the early years of high school, so we can encourage them on what kind of classes to take, you know, the sciences, the chemistries, the maths, so that they are prepared and can become nurses quicker when they get out of school,” said Dr. Wynn.

These students are all drawn to this academy for one reason or another.

Like Kymereon Kearns, an eighth grader at Bluefield Middle School, said she has always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

“Every since I was younger, I just like the fact of like helping people and like seeing that I could like put a smile on people’s face,” explained Kearns.

Leah Yancey, also in eighth grader at Bluefield Middle, has a family history in healthcare.

“Most of my family has been nurses and I kinda wanted to follow into my mother’s footsteps of being a nurse,” said Yancey.

Bluefield State University often has their nursing program graduates work at PCH, so the partnership benefits both institutions and the students in the Academy as far as seeing where they could potentially work someday.

President and CEO of WVU Medicine PCH Karen Bowling said the program really allows the children to make an informed decision on their future.

“Don’t choose a profession for the wrong reason, choose it because you believe that’s gonna be your life’s work because most of the time that you spend is gonna be with your work family,” said Bowling. “And I think this kind of exposure really does give them a good perspective of whether nursing or a healthcare field is the right field for them and that’s what, for me, is so exciting.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.