WVU School of Nursing, WVU Medicine partner to provide financial, educational support to future nurse anesthetists
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — In a collaborative partnership, 11 intensive care unit nurses at WVU Medicine will receive an educational stipend toward the WVU School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthetist program in exchange for a four-year work agreement as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) after graduation.
“With the growing need for CRNAs in West Virginia, we saw this opportunity as a win-win — both for nurses who want to further their education and for healthcare facilities in need of high-quality providers,” said Dr. Tara Hulsey, WVU School of Nursing Dean and E. Jane Martin Endowed Professor.
Administrators at University Health Associates and WVU Health System Medical Group worked with the WVU School of Nursing to develop a plan to increase the size of the class and to support the nurses as they pursue their DNP Nurse Anesthetist degree. Not only will the nurses receive an educational stipend, but the health system will maintain them in a “leave of absence” status and maintain their benefits while they are enrolled in the program.
The initial cohort will start the program Aug. 17 and will graduate from the three-year program in 2029.
“By removing the financial barriers and continuing their health benefits, we are making it possible for our ICU nurses to focus entirely on their advanced training so they can bring those vital skills back to our local communities,” Melanie Heuston, WVU Medicine Chief Nursing Executive, said.
WVU Medicine officials previously approached DNP Nurse Anesthetist Program Director Dr. Aaron Ostrowski about expanding the class size, but he and Dean Hulsey wanted to receive full accreditation before admitting additional students. In 2025, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs granted the program at WVU the highest accreditation status available, a 10-year accreditation. And this year, the School of Nursing ranked No. 60 for Best Nurse Anesthesia Programs by U.S. News & World Report.
The COA granted the request to increase the class size by five students, raising the capacity of each cohort from 15 to 20. A second Academic CRNA from J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital will join the faculty at the WVU School of Nursing to support the increased class size.
“From the inception of the program in 2017, WVU Medicine has supported this much-needed program to grow the number of CRNAs educated in West Virginia to expand the access to care of West Virginians. We share that mission at the WVU School of Nursing with the WVU Health System and are thankful for their support,” Dr. Ostrowski said.
DNP Nurse Anesthetist students can expect a rigorous curriculum based in sciences including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, chemistry and physics. The full-time program requires 88 credits over three years or nine continuous semesters.
Upon completion of the program, graduates earn a DNP degree and are eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam (NCE). Those who pass the NCE will become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists or CRNAs.
For more information, visit nursing.wvu.edu.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; wendy.holdren@hsc.wvu.edu