Tina L. Antill Keener, PhD, MBA, RN, CPNP, CNE
- Positions
- Assistant Professor, Family / Community Health Department
- Director of BSN Program, Office of Academics
- Organization
- West Virginia University
Inside Outside Pathway
Through a new partnership with Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, BSN students are invited to apply for the Inside Outside pathway — a community nursing track that allows students to make a difference outside the hospital setting by improving access to care and promoting wellness in schools, homes, health departments and elsewhere.
Students in this pathway will follow the traditional BSN curriculum and participate in classroom and simulation experiences alongside their peers throughout the program. The primary distinction for those students is that, starting in the junior year, their clinical placements will occur in community settings, where they will be paired with a preceptor.
Designed for students interested in community and population-focused care, the pathway combines WVU’s rigorous academic curriculum with immersive community based clinical experiences. Students learn alongside their peers in the classroom, simulation, and interprofessional education environments while gaining hands on experience that prepares them to meet the evolving health needs of individuals, families, and communities across West Virginia and beyond.
Eligible students will be directly provided with the application link during their first sophomore semester. The following information outlines the eligibility criteria, program structure, and application details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why would I be interested in the Inside Outside Pathway?
A. The Inside Outside Pathway is designed for students who are interested in community health, population health, prevention, and addressing health needs beyond the hospital setting. This pathway allows students to build strong clinical skills while gaining immersive experience in schools, homes, health departments, and community organizations. Students often value working closely with individuals, families, and communities; focusing on health promotion and chronic disease management; and understanding how social and environmental factors influence health.
Q. How is the Inside Outside Pathway different from the traditional clinical track?
A. Students in both tracks complete the same BSN curriculum, including coursework, simulation, and skills laboratory experiences. The primary difference is the clinical placement setting starting during the junior year. Inside Outside students complete most of their clinical hours in community-based settings rather than primarily in acute care hospitals.
Q. Will students in the Inside Outside Pathway learn alongside their peers?
A. Yes. Inside Outside students participate in classroom instruction, simulation, and interprofessional education (IPE) experiences alongside students in the traditional track. Academic learning experiences are shared across tracks; only the clinical placement structure differs.
Q. What does signing the Inside Outside Pathway Student Agreement mean?
A. By signing the Inside Outside Pathway Student Agreement, the student affirms their commitment to participation in the Inside Outside Pathway. Students who elect to return to the traditional clinical track may not do so mid-semester and are required to complete the semester in which they are enrolled within the Inside Outside Pathway clinical experiences. Eligibility to remain in the Pathway requires maintenance of an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and successful completion of all NSG courses. Students who fail to meet these requirements will be removed from the Pathway.
Q. Can a student switch back to the traditional clinical track?
A. Students may request a return to the traditional track; however, mid-semester changes are not permitted. Students must complete the semester in which they are enrolled within the Inside Outside Pathway clinical experiences.
Q. Are clinical objectives and expectations the same for Inside Outside students?
A. Yes. Students in the Inside Outside Pathway are held to the same clinical objectives, professional standards, and course outcomes as students in the traditional track. All students are evaluated using the same clinical evaluation tool.
Q. Will students in the Inside Outside Pathway have hospital or acute care experiences?
A. Yes. Inside Outside Pathway students’ complete hospital-based clinical rotations during their sophomore year and during required specialty courses, including Alterations in Mental Health/Wellbeing, Pediatrics and Family Centered Care, Women’s Health and Newborn Nursing Care, and Adult Health III. While community settings serve as the primary clinical environment starting in the junior year, acute care experiences remain an essential component of the curriculum.
Q. How many students are accepted into the Inside Outside Pathway?
A. Enrollment is intentionally limited to ensure high-quality clinical mentorship and learning experiences. Eight students per cohort are selected at the Morgantown campus in the fall semester.
Q. When and how do students apply?
A. Students may apply to the Inside Outside Pathway during the first semester of the sophomore year. Applications are due December 1, and students will be notified of acceptance by March 1 of the second semester of the sophomore year. Selection is based on completion of an application, an interview, and faculty recommendations, with consideration given to the student’s demonstrated interest in community- and population-focused nursing.
Q. Will students need transportation to clinical sites?
A. Yes. Because community clinical placements occur in a variety of locations, students must have reliable transportation to and from assigned clinical sites.
Q. Does participating in the Inside Outside Pathway limit my employability after graduation?
A. No. Participation in the Inside Outside Pathway does not limit employability. Graduates earn the same BSN degree, meet the same clinical objectives, and are evaluated using the same clinical evaluation tools as students in the traditional track. Because Inside Outside students also complete required hospital-based rotations, graduates are eligible for the same entry-level nursing positions. Experience in community health, care coordination, and population health may further enhance employability.