UC Named a “Best School for Men in Nursing”

The American Association for Men in Nursing has named the University of Charleston one of its “Best Schools for Men in Nursing.”

The award recognizes a nursing school or college that has made significant efforts to recruit and retain men in nursing, provides a supportive educational environment for male students, and educates faculty, students, and the community about the contributions men have and do make to the nursing profession.

The awards were announced at the AAMN annual conference, which was held in St. Louis, MO, from October 17 to 19, 2024.

Reviewers of the UC application stated: “The University of Charleston Department of Nursing demonstrated activities and engagement supporting a gender-diverse nursing environment for students and faculty. They provided sufficient evidence of community engagement, media presence, and academic activities, resulting in a robust application packet. Without reservation, We support the University of Charleston for the AAMN Best Schools for Men in Nursing designation.”

UC is the only West Virginia school and the only first-time winner to be named to the list. The other 16 award recipients include Duke University School of Nursing, George Washington University School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and University of Cincinnati College of Nursing.

“We offer a supportive environment for traditional students but also for military members, parents, nontraditional students, and student-athletes pursuing their nursing education,” said Pam Smith, Assistant Professor and BSN Program Coordinator at UC. “Our nursing programs support parents and those pursuing their degree while continuing to fulfill roles outside the educational environment, as well as those with military obligations and UC student-athletes. We offer male faculty mentors and clinical opportunities to fully support a gender-diverse experience for students at the University of Charleston across all our undergraduate programs.”

UC offers a broad portfolio of nursing programs at the Charleston campus, Beckley location, and online. Almost 450 students are currently enrolled in the Associate Degree in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, RN to BSN, Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner, and Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice programs.