ECPI University sees more interest in nursing programs during COVID-19

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Staff at ECPI University, which has a campus in North Charleston, said interest in the nursing program is up since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When individuals want to join the nursing field... they’re interested in working in a caring environment and now...during the pandemic, prospective students are interested in being a part of the solution," campus President James Weaver said. "They want to be a healthcare hero working in our community.”

ECPI University helps students get degrees in the following:

• Nursing (BSN)
• Nursing (RN)
• Practical Nursing

Classes start at a few times throughout the year and they just began a new class of nursing students this week.

“We’re still graduating students," Campus Director of Academic Affairs Ron Neil said. “We’re graduating them every five weeks. Getting them out there to pass the NCLEX or their medical assisting exam and getting them out there in the field to combat this disease.”

Starting next week, the school will have a soft re-opening which will be important for nursing students who have done most of their classes online for the last eight weeks.

“We’re going to have students start coming into our labs and we’re going to focus on social distancing while we do that," Weaver said.

Students will have their temperatures checked when they enter the building, will have to wear a mask at all times and only three to four students will be allowed in a lab at a time.

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