MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — The West Virginia University School of Nursing will host its fourth annual day camp on Saturday, June 6, for high school students who are interested in exploring nursing as a career.
During the free one-day event, students can experience what it’s like to be a nursing student by participating in hands-on learning opportunities at the W.Va. Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety Center in Morgantown.
The event will also feature a mock lecture, an information session, and a tour of the Health Sciences Center campus, according to Phillip Engelkemier, the school’s director of recruitment and retention.
“This event offers a chance for high school students to experience a day in the life of a nursing student,” Engelkemier said.
“Previous attendees especially enjoyed the hands-on learning simulations. New for this year’s event is a guided campus tour of our health sciences center, so prospective students can explore the campus setting.”
Attendees will be able to meet faculty members, including Dr. Brad Phillips, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, and Dr. Tina Antill Keener, Director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program.
Engelkemier said they can also meet current students, who can share their experiences and answer questions.
While the event is free to attend, attendees are invited to support our Student Ambassador Scholarship Fund by making a donation. “Its student ambassadors help make events like these possible,” Engelkemier said.
Attendees will receive lunch and a WVU School of Nursing shirt. Registration will be limited to the first 75 students who sign up. Fill out this online form to register to attend the 2026 event.
The future of nursing in the U.S. and West Virginia
Employment prospects for nurses remain strong in West Virginia and across the United States as healthcare systems continue to face staffing shortages driven by retirements, an aging population, and rising demand for medical care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow about 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. The agency estimates roughly 189,000 nursing job openings each year over the decade due to growth, retirements, and workforce turnover.
Demand is expected to be especially high in rural states such as West Virginia, where healthcare providers continue to struggle to recruit and retain workers.
West Virginia faces additional challenges because of its aging population, high rates of chronic disease, and large rural areas with limited access to healthcare. A recent West Virginia University policy report estimated that the state currently faces a shortage of nearly one-fifth of its registered nursing workforce.
Healthcare officials say shortages are affecting hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and home health agencies throughout the state.
The outlook has prompted colleges and universities to expand nursing recruitment and training efforts. The West Virginia University School of Nursing promotes nursing careers to high school students through outreach events and simulation training.
Nationally, advanced nursing careers are expected to see even faster growth. Federal labor projections indicate that nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse-midwives could see employment growth of about 35% over the next decade.
Despite the strong job outlook, the profession continues to face burnout, long work hours, and staffing pressures that intensified during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, healthcare workforce experts say nursing remains one of the nation’s most stable career fields because demand for medical care persists regardless of economic conditions.
The W.Va. STEPS simulation center is located within the WVU Health Sciences Center on the Health Sciences Campus at 64 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506.
Nursing education at the STEPS center
Also known as the “STEPS” center, the David and Jo Ann Shaw Center for Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety provides hands-on clinical simulations and patient-care training for nursing, medical, and other healthcare students. The center is accessible from the medical center station on the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit system.
For more information, contact Phillip Engelkemier at phillip.engelkemier@hsc.wvu.edu.