One of the most commonly asked questions of our admissions department involves entry into the Nursing program. For most people, when considering the healthcare field for employment, they think of becoming a nurse (RN). As you read this, you probably have an image of one in your head…scrubs, stethoscope, white shoes, and a kind demeanor. The person in your mental image may be someone that you have met, someone that took care of you or a family member in a time of need, or maybe even your future self! Now, the reality is that there are MANY types of healthcare professionals (Medical Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, etc.) that fit the image you have created, but you have decided that this person is an RN and that is what you want to become.
The question is, how? The guide below will help give you a picture of what it takes to navigate the Direct Admittance Nursing (RN) program at West Virginia Junior College in Morgantown.
Step 1: Call the WVJC campus at 304-296-8282, request information on our website, or even walk into the campus to ask for more information on the program.
Step 2: Work with our Nursing admissions advisor to schedule a campus visit personalized to determine your needs, your correct fit, and the right timing for you. YES! While becoming a Nurse is the goal, how and when that happens is very much personalized to your needs and situation.
Step 3: Schedule your TEAS exam or consider our TEAS Prep Program, first, to prepare for the exam. Most Nursing programs require an entrance exam of some sort, and at WVJC, it is the TEAS. This is an exam designed to test your knowledge as the ACT or SAT would…but with a heavy dose of science. You should plan on spending 3-5 hours at our campus on test day, and be sure to study in advance (see TEAS Prep program option mentioned above). The key in this step is to keep moving forward. Choose a path, TEAS or TEAS Prep, and commit to it. There is little time to waste as space in the program is limited and competition is high.
Step 4: Complete the Nursing application. The components of this application can be, and are recommended to be, completed as you are preparing for the TEAS exam. The nursing application includes your TEAS scores (showing passing and competitive scores), your application, a fee, multiple essays, letters of reference, transcripts from high school and all post-secondary schools you have attended, and any other items requested by your nursing admissions advisor.
Step 5: Interview with the Nursing Program Director. Think of this as you would a job interview. Be prepared, confident, and dressed appropriately. If accepted by the Program Director, you move on to step 6.
Step 6: Meet with Financial Aid: At this point, you have been accepted into the program, and meeting with financial aid is the next step on your way to starting nursing classes. In this step, you will meet one-on-one with a financial aid representative who will walk you through the college financial aid process and help you determine what aid you may qualify for.
Step 7: Complete clearances, immunizations, and health screenings prior to orientation. This is one of the last steps, but a very important one as you prepare for orientation and the start of your nursing classes.
Step 8: Attend orientation and begin classes. With all of the required steps and approvals out of the way, you are now ready to begin your ultimate task, being a student who is fully committed to the rigor of the nursing program, striving to be successful for the next 18 months and, ultimately, walking across the stage as a graduate of WVJC’s Nursing program.
We know that taking that first step can be a little daunting but the faculty and staff at WVJC will be there with you every step of the way! For more information on WVJC’s nursing program, or any of our other allied health programs, please visit our website at wvjc.edu!