Nursing

Nursing Department Philosophy

Nursing Department Purpose and Goals

Preparing for a Career in Nursing

As a graduate of the A-B nursing program, you will be prepared as a generalist in nursing, qualified to provide leadership in a variety of settings such as community health, general hospital care, emergency care, and intensive care. For those interested in school health nursing, students may choose to take the School Nurse Option, a West Virginia Department of Education approved program, preparing them to apply for certification as a school health nurse. Other optional minors include Health Care Administration and Business Administration. From the beginning in 1945 as the first four-year baccalaureate nursing program in West Virginia, the nursing program at Alderson-Broaddus has attracted high-quality students and has graduated professionals who excel in many interesting nursing careers. The A-B nursing program has been accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission since 1974. In addition the program is approved by the West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses.

As a nursing student at A-B you'll study in the modern, well-planned Myers Hall of Health Sciences, where spacious classrooms, a well-equipped skills lab and a new computer lab provide the newest tools for nursing instruction. You'll also have direct access to Pentium PCs with telecommunication capabilities.

Field Experience

Clinical experiences for application of your classroom studies will begin your sophomore year. These clinical experiences place you in a variety of settings, always a small group, with a high level of personal attention from the instructor. Clinicals are conducted in hospitals in Morgantown, Clarksburg, Elkins, Buckhannon, and Weston. In addition extended care facilities are used for basic skills experiences, and community agencies in Barbour and surrounding counties are used for community nursing, home health, school nursing, and hospice experience.

The high quality of nurses graduating from A-B relates directly to the fine caliber of students who enter the program, and to the personal commitment of the nursing faculty and the excellence of the total college curriculum. At A-B your liberal studies core requirements will strengthen your general knowledge, improve your learning skills, and give you more confidence to advance in your profession.

Upon graduation, you'll receive a B.S.N. degree and will be qualified to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs. By pursuing graduate education, you can advance in nursing leadership roles such as nurse practitioner, clinician, educator, administrator, or researcher. In West Virginia, A-B nursing graduates teach in nursing programs at a number of the state's colleges and universities.

A-B graduates are also found in major hospitals throughout the United States, including Duke University Medical Center, West Virginia University Hospitals, Allegheny General Hospital, Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, and University of Virginia Medical Center. In addition, graduates are employed in the armed services and a variety of community-based health agencies.

The current focus in health care reform, including the demands of gerontology, managed care and community-based health care, has highlighted the unique contributions that nurses can provide. The nursing curriculum at A-B prepares nurses to meet these unique challenges. At A-B your professors will be men and women of high academic and moral standing who are committed to making a difference in the lives of the students they serve as well as to the advancement of their professions.

RNs, LPNs, & Transfer Students: Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses may study for the bachelor of science degree in nursing at A-B, entering the program at a level determined appropriate upon department review of their credentials. Transfer students are also accepted upon satisfactory review of transcripts. RNs and LPNs also have the option of completing their B.S.N. through a degree completion program.

With a baccalaureate degree in nursing from Alderson-Broaddus College you will join the professionals dedicated to excellence in health care. At A-B you can prepare to make a difference.