Elkins – Davis & Elkins College Associate Professor of Nursing Melissa McCoy and 40 second-year nursing students joined others in their profession to take part in the Nurse Unity Day Program on February 26 in Charleston, W.Va.
The annual event at the state capitol building is designed to allow students to meet and network with stakeholders, including nurses, other nursing students and members of the West Virginia Nurses Association, to learn about current issues that affect nursing.
“This experience allows the students the opportunity to transfer knowledge from the classroom to the current political arena to voice concerns about topics that will impact health care and nursing practice,” McCoy says.
McCoy adds that Unity Day was of particular interest to the students because they are learning about current issues in nursing and political action in NURS 204A: Management of Care II class, which she co- teaches this semester.
Davis & Elkins students attending the event were: Jessica Ashley of Weston, W.Va.; Kayla Barnes of Hendricks, W.Va.; Cora Bush of Buckhannon, W.Va.; Tiffany Carr of Elkins; Suzanne Chenoweth of Coalton, W.Va.; Summer Chestnut of Marlinton, W.Va.; Kristen Clevenger of Alum Bridge, W.Va.; Melissa Denise of Montrose, W.Va.; Rene Denise of Montrose, W.Va.; Benjamin Englekemier of Huttonsville, W.Va.; Heather England of Franklin, W.Va.; Cora Fry of Beverly, W.Va.; Sabrina George of Mabie, W.Va.; Elaina Godfrey of Weston, W.Va.; Rebecca Gower of Huttonsville, W.Va.; Beth Haddix of Elkins; Kylie Hatfield of Tonganoxie, Kan.; Laura Howes of Beverly, W.Va.; Katrina Kelley of Helvetia, W.Va.; Kourtni Kimble of Upper Tract, W.Va.; Ashleigh Lambert of Bridgeport, W.Va.; Camille Ledden of Hambleton, W.Va.; Halen Lockhead of Missoula, Mont.; Chelsea Long of Philippi, W.Va.; Vanessa Malcolmb of Buckeye, W.Va.; Sarah Marks of Elkins; Katheryn Marsh of Thomas, W.Va.; Sabrina Martin-Vernon of Clarksburg, W.Va.; Julie Reed of Rock Cave, W.Va.; Terri Rodeheaver of Terra Alta, W.Va.; William Sauchuk of Terra Alta, W.Va.; Heidi Schoonover of Philippi, W.Va.; Lisa Simmons of Elkins; Ariel Simons of Elkins; Ashley Sjoman of East Northport, N.Y.; Margaret Stephens of Bridgeport, W.Va.; Paige Sturm of Belington, W.Va.; Chelsie Sutter of Bowden, W.Va.; Julie White of Mill Creek, W.Va.; and Connie Yokum of Huttonsville, W.Va.
The Davis & Elkins College Division of Nursing prepares students to function competently and safely at the beginning staff level position, and provides the foundation for upward mobility into higher levels of nursing education. The Associate of Science degree in nursing curriculum combines selections from the liberal arts and related cognates with courses from the professional major. In addition, the concept of educational mobility is incorporated, allowing LPN students to enter the curriculum with advanced placement.