Virginia Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs
According to the Virginia Department of Health, Nursing is one of the health professions that is experiencing a shortage. This includes nurse practitioners, midwives, and nurse anesthetists. With the Institute of Medicine calling for higher education among nurses to fill the coming need, opportunities for all MSN-prepared nurses will likely improve in coming years.As a result, the state has identified several Healthcare Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which are designations that allow the state to obtain federal funding to increase the number of primary care providers in Virginia.
If you are ready to find the nursing schools in Virginia that offer MSN degree options, take some time to review the listings on our site. You can request information about masters programs, including RN to MSN programs, directly from schools to learn more.
MSN Degree Programs in Virginia
Several nursing programs in Virginia offer MSN degree programs, many with online options as well. It is important to evaluate several programs before making your final decision on a college, which is why we offer you a full listing and information about your options. Some of the nursing schools in VA include Old Dominion University, Liberty University, James Madison University and the state university system.
The University of Virginia, for example, has several Master’s degree programs for nurses. If you have your BSN, the following degree and certification programs are available for you. There are also RN to MSN programs available in VA if you want to bypass earning a BSN and move straight to your MSN.
Master’s Degree Programs
- Adult–Gerontology Acute Care CNs
- Adult–Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Clinical l Nurse Leader
- Psychiatric–Mental Health NP
- Public Health Nursing Leadership
- Public Health Nursing Leadership with NP
Certificate Programs
- Adult–Gerontology Acute Care CNS
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Family NP
- Health Systems Management
- Pediatric NP
- Psychiatric – Mental Health NP
- Public Health Nursing Leadership
- Wound Ostomy, Continence (WOC) Nursing
In light of the increased focus on mental health in recent news, many nurses are choosing to enter this specialty. As a Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner you will be prepared for advanced practice roles that promote and maintain health. As a mental health NP student, you will learn to prevent, detect and treat acute and chronic mental illness and adults across a variety of settings.
It takes 20 months for full-time students and 32 months for part-time students to complete this program, which totals 49 credits. There are 560 clinical hours required, and depending upon your actual choice in programs, you may take fewer or more clinical hours as you earn your MSN.
While there are several other specialty routes you can take, we have highlighted the mental health track as an example of what you can reasonable expect if you choose an MSN degree of this nature. Be sure to look into all of your options for study to ensure you find the program that can best meet your needs, talents and nursing skills.
Working With Your MSN Degree in Virginia
Once you have completed your MSN, Virginia remains a good place to practice as a Master’s educated nurse. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Virginia, in May 2013 Nurse Practitioners earned a median annual salary of $89,330, Nurse Anesthetists earned $166,330, Nurse Midwives wife earned an average income of $65,020 and a Nurse Educator earned an average income of $70,200. The financial stability that can result from earning your MSN is often just one of the benefits noted by nurses. The autonomy, intrinsic satisfaction and expanded impact that you can have on healthcare may also make earning your Master’s a worthwhile endeavor.
The Virginia Health Workforce Developmental Authority has issued $1 million in community grants to strengthen Virginian’s health workforce, and they also offer several scholarship opportunities to pay for nursing education, which is administered by several facilities including Virginia’s Nurse Practitioner/Nurse Midwife Scholarship Program.
The Virginia State Loan Repayment Program works in the same manner as Health Resources and Services Administration’s Nurse Corpse. In order to provide care to underserved areas, this program pays a healthy portion of the student’s tuition if they will work in one of the designated underserved areas. If you are in a low income bracket, check with the Financial Aid Office at your University and complete the FAFSA application. This is a federal grant based on income.
Earning a graduate degree can open new doors for employment and can also bring you a great deal of personal satisfaction. Request information about the MSN programs in VA that you are interested in today to learn more about how you can expand your nursing career through education.
MSN Programs to consider in Virginia
- George Mason University (Fairfax, VA). GMU offers several MSN tracks including advanced practice, administration, education, and a joint MSN/MBA concentration. They also offer an RN to MSN program.
- University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA). UVA’s MSN candidates can choose from a number of generalist or specialist tracks focusing on advanced practice, education, leadership, and more.
