New Earn to Learn Program Provides Nursing Students with Mentorship and Work Experience
Local partnerships are critical not only to sustain our workforce, but also to ensure that we have incoming staff who have hands-on experience with patient care. In partnership with Virginia Western Community College, we are working to ensure this pipeline is strong.
Our new Earn to Learn Nursing Education Acceleration Program pairs Virginia Western Community College nursing students with Carilion nurses for one-on-one mentorship while also providing paid clinical experience. Designed to address ongoing nursing shortages, the program blends classroom learning with real-world, hands-on training all while helping students build confidence and skills before they graduate.
Unlike traditional clinical rotations, where students often train in groups, Earn to Learn participants work directly alongside a dedicated nurse mentor. This individualized approach allows students to fully engage in patient care, develop critical thinking skills and gain a clearer understanding of what it means to work a full shift in a clinical setting.
We play a central role in the program by providing both mentorship and employment opportunities. Many students work as nurse externs within the same units where they train, reinforcing their skills while contributing to patient care. Early outcomes are promising; some of the participants have already transitioned into roles within our organization.
Kristin Crouse, transition to practice director with Human Resources, highlighted the program’s impact and smooth transition for nurses. She said, “Earn to Learn creates a powerful bridge between education and practice, helping us prepare confident, practice-ready students familiar with our tools, policies, and procedures here at Carilion,”
By investing in programs like Earn to Learn, we are supporting students financially and professionally while simultaneously helping ensure a stronger, more prepared nursing workforce for the communities it serves.
Read the full release, or, if you have questions about Learn to Earn, contact Kristin Crouse at klcrouse@carilionclinic.org.
Earn to Learn pairs Virginia Western nursing students with mentors, providing paid, hands-on clinical experience alongside classroom learning.
One-on-one mentorship allows students to fully engage in patient care while building confidence, critical thinking skills and real-world readiness.
The program strengthens the nursing pipeline, with early participants already transitioning into roles within Carilion.
