Nursing Schools in Virginia
Nursing Schools in Virginia allow students to explore a variety of medical topics, leading to a diversified set of careers. Students getting a nursing degree in Virginia can find work as registered nurses in different medical facilities such as home healthcare services, offices of physicians, general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, and nursing care facilities.
If you want to learn more about nursing schools in Virginia, the following guide can provide you with a quick and concise look into the field.
How to Choose a Nursing School in Virginia?
Selecting a nursing school to enroll yourself in can be a challenging task, with so many options available. However, certain factors help in the shortlisting process for nursing schools in Virginia. The most important concern when selecting a school would be the cost factor, followed by the program offerings and the career potential of a degree. Students must also look into other elements such as the reputation of the nursing school, faculty credentials, and notable alumni to ascertain the quality of education they would be getting.
One of the most important factors when selecting a nursing school is the accreditation status of the program. Nursing programs in Virginia are typically accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Coursework for Nursing Schools in Virginia
The complexity of the coursework for a nursing school in Virginia would be largely dependent on the level of education. There are different degrees available for aspiring nurses, such as an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Students can go for a degree that is following their past educational credentials and meets their future goals in the field of nursing.
Common coursework that students are likely to explore in a nursing degree in Virginia would include physiology, nursing fundamentals, microbiology, gerontology, pharmacology, women’s health, leadership in nursing, community and environmental nursing, population health, clinical study, etc.
Admission Requirements for Nursing Schools in Virginia
The admission requirements for nursing schools in Virginia would vary based on the level of education. For instance, enrolling in an associate’s degree in nursing would typically require only a high school diploma and a completed application package. On the other hand, enrolling in a master’s degree would require a bachelor’s degree at least, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores in some cases.
Job Outlook with Nursing Degrees in Virginia
Students graduating from nursing programs in Virginia would enjoy a positive job outlook and a decent salary. According to O*Net Online, the expected job growth for registered nurses in Virginia is 12% in the years from 2018 to 2028. This is much higher than the national growth rate of 7%. The salary outlook for registered nurses in the state was also good, with an annual mean wage of $74,380 in 2020, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National Estimates for Registered Nurses in Virginia
Employment 1 | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage 2 | Employment per 1,000 jobs | Location quotient 9 |
---|---|---|---|---|
66450 | $35.76 | $74,380 | 18 | 0.84 |
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.