If you are contemplating becoming a nurse, good for you! You have chosen a career that is not only rewarding and pays a livable wage, but is one that is held in high regard in our society. The only downside to nursing school is that entrance is competitive. Only scholars at the top of their game will gain admission to the RN/BSN programs at Northern Virginia nursing schools. While you are polishing up your transcript, here are the details on some of the programs in NoVA.

George Mason University

This public university in Fairfax has been nationally recognized, not just for their nursing programs. GMU was ranked one of the top five “up-and-coming institutions” in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. In 2011, U.S. News & World Report also ranked the School of Nursing graduate program as a Top Online Education Program. One of the big pros of getting a nursing degree at George Mason is that your opportunities are not limited by program options. GMU offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs with offered concentration areas of nursing administration, nurse educator, advanced clinical nursing and nurse practitioner; or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, intended for those individuals who desire to work as expert clinical nurses.

Marymount University

This coed Catholic institution is located in Arlington, just a hop-skip-jump away from the Capital. Its BSN program is open to prospective nurses coming from many walks of life: high school graduates, current RNs and second-degree students. There is also an MSN program, which prepares students for family practice when they graduate. The learning experience revolves around lab and clinical experiences in order to ready fledgling nurses for certification exams offered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Credentialing Committee. Areas of study include advanced pathophysiology, health care data analysis and nursing research design. Marymount additionally offers a DNP program for experienced nurses who wish to focus on advanced clinical practice. Before they can matriculate, all DNP candidates must prepare a manuscript and present it at a national conference. 

Northern Virginia Community College

With six locations across NoVA, and the main campus located in Annandale, NVCC is a more affordable and accessible route to a nursing career for many students. Only an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree program is offered. This degree gets students on track for nursing positions in many different healthcare environments. Generally the program is completed in two years, but there are flexible options for an accelerated track with summer courses and a hybrid online option.