WVU Medicine expands Clinical Advancement for Professional Excellence Program for bedside nurses

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine is in the process of expanding its Clinical Advancement for Professional Excellence (CAPE) Program for bedside nurses.  

The CAPE Program is a nursing program designed to enrich professional development, provide a reward system for advancing clinical practice, promote quality nursing, and improve job satisfaction. This contemporary program, designed by nurses for nurses, is focused on rewarding, recognizing, retaining, and recruiting inpatient direct-care nurses throughout WVU Medicine. The CAPE Program was originally designed in 2018 by bedside nurses throughout the WVU Health System and was updated in 2023 to keep it contemporary, competitive, and relevant to the bedside nurses’ work. 

“All nurses are valued by WVU Medicine, and this Program fosters a professional nursing career path and values experience,” Melanie Heuston, D.N.P., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., WVU Health System chief nursing executive, said. “We want to do everything possible to provide a career path and growth opportunities for our nurses.”

Nurses are rewarded and recognized for being charge nurses and precepting students and/or new employees. They are also recognized for elevating the voice of nursing on unit, hospital, or System-wide councils. Education and professional development are also recognized as ways to advance in the Program. As nurses gain more knowledge and expertise in their field of practice, patient care is affected in a positive way.

“Nurses are grateful and recognize the organization’s commitment to nurses and to allow nurses to collaborate in decision-making for departments, hospitals, and the System,” Lya M. Cartwright-Stroupe, D.N.P., A.P.R.N., C.P.N.P.-P.C., N.E.A.-B.C., N.P.D.-B.C., WVU Health System director for professional practice and education and leader of the CAPE Task Force since its formation, said. “There is much excitement and energy surrounding the revisions.”

For more information on the CAPE Program, visit WVUMedicine.org/Careers/Clinical-Advancement-for-Professional-Excellence. For more information about open nursing positions at WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org/Careers.