Virginia RN to MSN / Masters in Nursing Programs
(found programs from 12 schools)

According to the Virginia Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center, the overall demand for RNs in Virginia is expected to increase quickly, especially after 2015. 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. Currently, only about 11 percent of Virginia RNs have an MSN.

With the exception of CRNAs, most advanced practice nurses in Virginia work in community-based settings. According to a report by the Center to Champion Nursing in America, all Virginia advanced practice nurses (NPs in particular) have a number of restrictions on their practice, but despite this, high job satisfaction is reported. Legislation is increasingly geared toward expanding advanced practice nurses' roles in the state.

Virginia has a substantial amount of rural counties that will need primary care in the near future. The Workforce Council of Virginia's State Rural Health Plan is working to meet the demand by integrating more rural healthcare content into advanced practice education programs. Nursing faculty members are needed to teach this additional content, as well as general courses in pre-RN programs. For more information, check out the Virginia Board of Nursing and the Virginia Nurses Association.

Programs to consider:

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.

Below is a list of all the accredited schools with campus locations in Virginia that offer MSN programs.