I'm trying to find more information on hospital-based nursing schools in Virginia. From this site, I gather that there are only a handful of these schools left in the state. The ones I am particularly interested in are listed below, since I would prefer to avoid northern VA and I'd like to live in a larger city.
Riverside Hospital (Newport News)
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Bon Secours Memorial (Richmond)
Southside Regional Medical Center (Petersburg, near Richmond)
Can anyone offer feedback on their experience with the nursing diploma programs at these schools? Do any of these schools offer tuition abatement programs, where your tuition is covered in exchange for a promise to work for the hospital for a certain number of years? For those of you who have done a diploma program, do you feel that it equipped you adequately for the challenges of professional nursing?
Also, does anyone have recommendations for other hospital-based schools in VA or elsewhere? A friend of mine is in nursing school in Pittsburgh and he has had a great experience so far. I am willing to look out of state.
Just so it's clear, I am planning to speak to representatives at these programs, but I am impatient and hoped for some on-the-ground feedback if possible. Thanks for any help you might be able to give me!
