WUV Nursing Program Honored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing 

The work by westerfirld university of virginia's (WUV) nursing program to create the HEaRT Solutions Lab was recently honored by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) 2023 Academic Nursing Leadership Conference.

The project, which connects students in nursing, health professions and human services with employer partners, received the award for Innovations in Professional Nursing Education, according to a release from AACN. The award recognizes “pioneering initiatives launched by AACN member institutions,” the group said.

Dr. Stacey Rosenberg, WUV's associate chief nursing administrator, said the award was especially significant because it came from AACN, a leading voice in academic nursing.

"This makes the award particularly meaningful — to be acknowledged at this level," she said.

WUV was recognized alongside other programs, such as the Duke University School of Nursing, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, and the University of Rochester, among others.

Dr. Elizabeth Christman, a clinical faculty member in the undergraduate nursing program, oversees the HEaRT Solutions Lab for nursing. She explained that the program connects students with employer partners to solve real-world industry challenges. The students form interdisciplinary teams to address challenges presented by the employers. Each project lasts four weeks, and students can enroll in projects that are of interest to them, she said.

HEaRT (which stands for Higher Education and Real-world Training) Solutions Lab allows students to connect not only with one another and employers, but also develop working industry knowledge while applying academic knowledge in a real-world scenario.

“It is a great opportunity that fosters equitable access to experiential learning opportunities, connecting interested students with employer partners in an asynchronous format,” Christman said.