WVU Medicine celebrates National Nurses Month

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine is joining the American Nurses Association (ANA) in the celebration of National Nurses Month, held annually in May.  

The 2023 Nurses Month theme, “You Make a Difference,” was selected to encourage nurses, other healthcare professionals, employers, community leaders, and the public to recognize and promote the vast contributions and positive impact of America’s nurses.

“At WVU Medicine, our 10,000 nurses make an incredible difference in the lives of our patients every day. Whether they are providing care at the bedside of an inpatient, seeing patients at one of our outpatient clinics, or visiting patients in their homes, our nurses are the backbone of the care we provide,” Melanie Heuston, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., chief nursing executive for the WVU Health System, said. “Their hard work and professionalism are appreciated not just this month but all year long.”

Each week within the month has a different focus to celebrate the contribution of nurses to the delivery of healthcare:

• May 1-7: Self-care
• May 8-14: Recognition
• May 15-21: Professional development
• May 22-31: Community engagement 

Hospitals and clinics across WVU Medicine will recognize their nurses during National Nurses Week, which is held annually starting on May 6 and ending on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. 

The ANA estimates that the demand for registered nursing services – which constitute the nation’s largest healthcare profession – will be greater than ever because of the aging of the American population, emerging health challenges, the continuing expansion of life-sustaining technologies, and the explosive growth of home healthcare services. 

In addition, more qualified registered nurses are needed in the future to meet the increasingly complex needs of healthcare consumers, and the cost-effective, safe, and high-quality healthcare services provided by registered nurses will be an increasingly important component of the United States healthcare delivery system in the future.

At WVU Medicine, newly hired nurses who accept job offers in qualifying positions through the end of the year receive a sign-on bonus. All employees, regardless of hire date, receive competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes student loan forgiveness up to $437.50 month and tuition reimbursement for themselves and their children when attending WVU or any other accredited college or university.

Direct care nurses at WVU Medicine can also participate in the Clinical Advancement for Professional Excellence (CAPE) Program, a system-wide clinical advancement program (clinical ladder) to enhance professional development, provide a reward system for quality clinical performance, promote quality nursing, and improve job satisfaction for inpatient direct care nurses.

Nursing positions are currently open across WVU Medicine. For more information and to apply, visit WVUMedicine.org/Careers. 

For more information on WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org.