Getting Started Nursing Schools Financial Aid Resources Virginia Health Education Resources GETTING STARTED (Source: National Student Nurses Association, www.nsna.org) If you are interested in entering the nursing field, you’ll first need to go to nursing school. You can apply to several state-approved and accredited schools of nursing (link to Nursing Schools). You'll require a high school diploma and a sound academic standing in English, Algebra, Chemistry, Biology, and Psychology. At the end of the nursing program, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to become a Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN ). Minoritynurse.com maintains a diverse academic program resource for all levels of educational pathways, including what to expect after graduation http://www.minoritynurse.com/academic/index.html Educational Pathways to Consider: Associates Degree, ADN — two-year programs (after pre-nursing courses are completed) offered at community and junior colleges. Hospital Diploma — two to three-year nursing programs based in hospital settings. Many diploma schools are affiliated with Junior and community colleges where students take basic English and Sciences requirements. Bachelors of Science, BSN — four-year program, offered at colleges and universities. There are also five-year work-study BSN programs. Advancement opportunities are the greatest for the BSN graduate. A BSN is required for entry into a master's degree in nursing program. The National Student Nurse's Association has many articles on becoming a nurse, from where to begin to what to do for your first job. Check it out at: http://www.nsna.org/career/index.asp Or visit: http://www.aacn.nche.edu http://www.virginianurses.com/vna/index.htm [back to top] VIRGINIA NURSING SCHOOLS There are many nursing schools for you to choose from — whether in Virginia, around the United States, or internationally. For more information about Health Education Resources in Virginia, click here. Many nursing schools these days recognize the need to create more opportunities for minority nurses to earn degrees that will help them succeed. They are increasingly partnering with health care employers, government agencies and nursing associations by developing such innovative solutions as flexible BSN and MSN programs, bridge programs, scholarships and even expanded loan repayment programs. Special efforts are also made to provide students with increased support services to ensure minority nurses successfully complete their degrees. For more details, visit: http://www.minoritynurse.com/academic/ Some general links to Nursing Schools in the United States and internationally. American Association of Colleges of Nursing's listing of member schools http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Membership/Membdir.htm Listing of Schools of Nursing http://www.nursingsociety.org/education/schoolsUS.html National League of Nurses' Directory of Accredited Nursing Programs http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/directory_search.htm Nursing Schools (U.S. and International) http://www.nsna.org/career/nursing_schools.asp [back to top] FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES The Virginia Department of Health runs a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Midwife Scholarship Program. Click here to download a pdf document of the application. Here are some links you may also find useful: Financial Aid Information for Prospective and Current Nursing Students http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/finaid.htm Information on student financial aid from the US Department of Education http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html Johnson & Johnson maintains a searchable database of scholarship opportunities http://www.discovernursing.com/scholarship_search.asp Scholarship Information for prospective students of Nurse Anesthesia Programs http://www.aana.com/foundation/scholarship.asp Scholarship Information http://www.nursingsociety.org/career/scholarships_opps.html Student Nurse Scholarships http://www.aorn.org/foundation/scholarshipstudent.htm [back to top] VIRGINIA HEALTH EDUCATION RESOURCES These links are broken down into the various localities in Virginia and they are a great source of health information for nursing students and professionals alike: Virginia AHEC Program Office http://www.ahec.vcu.edu/ Blue Ridge AHEC (BRAHEC) www.brahec.jmu.edu Southside AHEC (SAHEC) http://www.ahec.vcu.edu/southside.htm Southwest Virginia AHEC (SWVAHEC) http://www.swvahec.org/ South Central AHEC (SCAHEC) http://www.scahec.org/ Rappahannock AHEC (RAHEC) http://www.rahec.net/ [back to top]