Washington & Jefferson College plans to start offering a bachelor’s degree in nursing starting in the fall of 2024.

W&J leaders say the move makes sense, with nurses in high demand and the school able to partner with nearby Washington Health System’s Washington Hospital.

The college plans to enroll 24 undergraduates in its inaugural class.

Clinical training will be offered through Washington Health System, which has its own 16-month diploma program and has delivered nursing education for 126 years, college officials said.

Washington & Jefferson said it is hiring an assistant/associate professor and a chair of nursing.

W&J alumni for generations have pursued careers in various health-related fields, said college President John Knapp. As nursing students, they will have access to a health facility located a mile from the school.

“W&J students will benefit from our state-of-the-art clinical instruction and facilities,” Washington Health System CEO Brook Ward said in a news release. “We are proud to partner with W&J for this program. It will increase the number of nursing graduates locally, with hopes that they will stay in the area to ease the nursing labor shortage.”

Citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both the college and health system say job growth in nursing outpaces other occupations.

Students can live on W&J’s 60-acre campus and participate in campus activities. The college enrolls about 1,150 students, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s latest enrollment data.

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