RN Virginia Programs – State-approved VA RN Schools & Guidelines

Several state-accredited VA RN schools exist for those who want to become a Virginia Registered Nurse. I should write my essay in detail to show you how to find approved programs.

To work as a Virginia Registered Nurse (RN), those without a formal nursing background must complete a state-approved RN Virginia educational program.

All 50 states are required to both approve and regulate in-state registered nursing (RN) academic programs. The Virginia Board of Nursing is the official organization responsible for approving those VA RN schools that are available throughout the state.

This article shows students how to find official, state-approved Virginia RN programs, and explains the state's licensure requirements.

RN Virginia Licensing Requirements

Individuals who have never been licensed as a nurse and who have not earned a nursing degree that meets Virginia's educational requirements must fulfill the following obligations before working as a Virginia Registered Nurse:

• Graduate from a state-approved VA RN program
• Pass the national NCLEX-RN licensure examination
• Pass a criminal history background check

Those who currently hold an active, out-of-state nursing license should know that Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, a collection of states that accept license transfers from those holding valid licenses in member compact states. Additionally, Virginia accepts applications for endorsement for those holding a valid out-of-state license.

For information on how to obtain transfer and endorsement applications, contact the Virginia Board of Nursing at 804-367-4515.

VA RN Programs & Education

While each individual program that prepares students to become a licensed Virginia Registered Nurse is able to build its own curricular offerings, all state approved RN Virginia schools must offer the following:

• At least two full years of academic learning
• A theory-based, classroom component
• A clinical training, hands-on component

In the classroom component of both Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, students learn a number of skill areas, including:

• Pediatrics
• Gerontology
• Maternity nursing
• General nursing practice
• Pharmacology
• Physical sciences (including microbiology)
• Social sciences (including psychology)

Additionally, students in state-approved programs work with patients in medical facilities under the supervision of a licensed nurse. This clinical training, which is a major component of the learning, both trains students for their future careers and prepares them for the NCLEX-RN exam.

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Finding Virginia Registered Nurse Training Programs

The Board of Nursing approves numerous VA RN schools across the state, most of which are located in community colleges, four-year colleges and universities.

For a list of those programs approved by the state, reference the registered nursing list of schools.

Benefits of RN Virginia Training

Students who both complete a state-approved Virginia RN program and pass the NCLEX-RN examination are eligible to work as a registered nurse in Virginia.

With the state's aging population, RN jobs are expected to be sorely needed in the public health sector for many years to come, making an investment in nursing education a wise one.

For additional nursing opportunities in Virginia and elsewhere, see also:

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