Norfolk State University's College of Science Engineering and Technology offers associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing. The programs are designed to prepare student to become LPNs or RNs and to allow practicing nurses who have already obtained training and work experience the opportunity to earn a higher degree. The LPN Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has three tracks for working professionals and graduates. The LPN and RN programs allow for practicing nurses to obtain a bachelor's degree while the second degree track allows students who already have a bachelor's degree in another field to credit classes toward a degree in nursing. The program offers weekend and evening classes to facilitate study for working professionals.
Old Dominion University's College of Health Sciences is the seat of the university's nursing program. The program offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Programs are available for both licensed nurses and undergraduates. The school has a distance learning program for licensed professionals to make it easier for them to obtain a bachelor's degree while working. The master's program concentrations include nurse anesthesia, nurse educator, family nurse practitioner, nurse administrator and nurse midwifery. Old Dominion's School of Nursing aims to equally combine coursework and clinical practice at health care facilities around the Norfolk area.
Sentara College of Health Sciences is a college and training institution in Chesapeake, 10 miles from Norfolk. The College is run by Sentara Healthcare, the owners of many Virginia area hospitals, and offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. The program in unique in that students complete the first 18 months online and the last year in a clinical environment. The school offers shorter programs for LPNs and RNs who wish to advance their careers by gaining a bachelor's degree.
Centura College's Norfolk campus offers a diploma in practical nursing that prepares students to become LPNs. The program focuses on bedside care and basic clinical practices such as vital signs, laboratory testing and injections as well as administrative duties like patient care plans. The program begins with coursework in anatomy, physiology and medical terminology and terminates with clinical practice experience. The school also focuses on different health care specialties like geriatrics, rehabilitation and surgery to give students a broad view of the industry.