Nursing Schools in Va

Located on the Atlantic coast, Virginia is one of the oldest US states. It is also known as the "Mother of Presidents". Richmond is the state’s capital. The state has several colleges and universities offering a wide array of degree programs in different concentrations. The University of Virginia is one such school, founded by none other than by one of the founding fathers Thomas Jefferson.

Health related careers are in-demand in the state of Virginia. Nursing, especially has a great future in the state since O*NET OnLine Virginia specific statistics predict 13% job growth in the field from 2012 to 2022. Registered nurses earned a median yearly salary of $62,600 in 2014 or $30.10 per hour.

Nursing schools in Virginia

There are many schools that offer training programs for prospective nursing professionals. After being licensed, graduates of these programs can possibly work in labs, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and doctor’s offices.

Nursing Schools in Virginia offer programs leading to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Diploma in Nursing, Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN), and doctoral degrees in nursing.The duration of these programs vary. The choice of a program depends on the career goals of a student. Those who are interested in pursuing entry-level positions as nurses can enroll in LPN/LVN programs. On the other hand, students who want to work as registered nurses must pursue a diploma or ADN, if not a BSN. Practicing nurses interested in working in nursing administrative settings, must consider enrolling and completing the MSN program. A PhD in nursing may lead to a career in academia.

Students enrolled at Nursing Schools in VA may study courses such as primary healthcare, pharmacology, physiology, anatomy, record keeping and biosciences. They may also learn clinical nursing practice and health optimization.

The following is not an exhaustive list of nursing schools and institutes approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.

• George Mason University
• The George Washington University
• Hampton University School of Nursing of Virginia Beach
• James Madison University
• Jefferson College of Health Sciences
• Liberty University
• Lynchburg College
• Marymount University
• Norfolk State University
• Old Dominion University
• Radford University
• Sentara College of Health Sciences
• Shenandoah University
• University of Virginia
• Virginia Commonwealth University

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Technology: Nursing Major

This is typically a 5-semester degree, which may be awarded upon successful completion of 66 credit hours. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). It is mandatory; all nurses who intend to practice must clear this exam to get licensed.

An associate degree in nursing, teaches the following courses to its students.

• Dimensions of Nursing
• Developmental Psychology
• Maternal-Newborn Nursing
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
• Health Assessment
• Principles of Pharmacology
• Nursing Principles and Concepts
• Human Anatomy and Physiology

General admission requirements for the program are:

• High school diploma or its equivalent
• College placement tests in mathematics and English

Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A 4-year, full-time program, BSN students take courses in:

• Nursing Practice
• Nursing Administration
• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology
• Growth and Development
• Anatomy and Physiology

In addition to classroom-based teaching, students also learn from conducting independent research. The research may be conducted individually or as part of a team. All graduates are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).

General admission requirements for the program include:

• High school diploma or its equivalent
• Official transcripts
• SAT/ACT scores

RN to BSN

In addition to providing students with a foundation for professional practice, RN to BSN program provides them with an opportunity for further education as well. This is an accelerated pathway to a BSN degree wherein students may complete their degree in less than 4 years. The program however is open to those licensed nurses with a diploma or associate degree in nursing. Furthermore, prospective applicants must have taken the following courses prior to applying for the program.

• Statistics
• Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Development
• Physiology
• Human Anatomy
• Health Assessment
• Pharmacology

Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The program is for those nurses seeking leadership roles in healthcare delivery system.

Master’s degree program are offered in:

• Public Health Nursing Leadership with NP
• Public Health Nursing Leadership
• Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
• Pediatric NP
• Health Systems Management
• Family NP
• Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) for RNs
• Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) direct entry to nursing
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care CNS

General admission requirements for the degree may include:

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Registered nurse licensure
• Letters of recommendation
• GRE (optional)
• Undergraduate courses in research and statistics
• At least one year of experience in direct patient care as an RN

Financial aid

Eligible nursing students may receive financial aid packages from their schools in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, fellowships and teaching and research assistant positions, etc. For further information, contact your school’s financial aid office.

How much do nurses make in Virginia?

RNs nationally earned a median annual income of $66,600 or $32.04 per hour, in 2014.