MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia University is receiving a grant of more than $1.2 million to train advanced practice nurses.
A press release Monday says WVU will receive the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration grant over three years.
The project will concentrate on care for the state's vulnerable, rural and underserved patients. It includes partnerships with free clinics, health departments and hospitals.
The Family Nurse Practitioner post-master's certificate and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at WVU will participate in the project.
This year, Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill passed by the Republican-led Legislature to let advanced nurses, including nurse practitioners, prescribe certain medications without agreements with doctors. That doesn't include powerful Schedule II painkillers.
It does include up to 30-day supplies without refills of Schedule III medications.