WGU expands access to West Virginia

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – Western Governors University’s (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH) has introduced the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Prelicensure) program in West Virginia, providing more access to West Virginians who are seeking an alternative pathway into the nursing industry.

Dr. Donte Newsom, President of the West Virginia Nurses Association, stated, “WGU is breaking down barriers by providing remote access to higher education for those who wouldn’t be able to enroll in a traditional college model. This is crucial, especially at a time when nurses are in high demand across the state, particularly in bedside care. We look forward to the impact this degree will have on producing new nurses in West Virginia.”

In response to the state’s nursing shortage, WGU aims to add hundreds of new nursing graduates to West Virginia by the end of 2027 with the expansion of the Prelicensure program. Prospective students in West Virginia can now apply to this program, and the university plans to collaborate with healthcare employers across the state to offer clinical experiences.

According to Regional Vice President Alison Bell, expanding the BSN Prelicensure program is part of WGU’s effort to make high-quality education accessible in West Virginia, with the goal of bolstering the nursing workforce and improving patient outcomes in the state.

The program is a hybrid offering, with approximately 60 percent online coursework and 40 percent hands-on clinical and lab time. Students undergo clinical training in WGU’s nursing simulation labs and participate in multiple clinical rotations in hospitals and community-based settings for each clinical course.

Completion of this program prepares students for the registered nurse (R.N.) licensing exam, National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN Exam).

WGU’s first-time NCLEX-RN average pass rate over the last five years has been 89.21 percent, exceeding the national five-year average of all BSN programs reported by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).