Nursing Students tending to a patient in the simulation lab

Again, Longwood Nursing has shown that it is not only among the top nursing programs in Virginia, but across the country.

This year, Longwood nursing students passed their licensure test—the last qualifying step that all professional nurses must pass—at a 98% rate, the highest among all 4-year nursing programs in Virginia.

It also marks 7 straight years where pass rates have been above 90%, including several years of perfect performances. That passing rate has led the program to be ranked No. 1 in the Southeast region by NursingProcess.org.

Students who apply to our program know that they will not only receive the best professional training in the state, but be taught by faculty who are invested in them personally and work with them one-on-one to help them achieve success.

Jason Ferguson (M.S. ’12), Dean of Admissions

“This is a high-stakes test, and our students work extraordinarily hard for four years to prepare for this moment,” said Dr. Kim Little, professor and director of the nursing program. “It’s a testament to their intellect and commitment to this vocation that we have seen such incredible passing rates among our first-time test-takers. Each of them will enter the workforce prepared to make a difference, and I am so proud of both them and our faculty who have dedicated their careers to preparing the nurses of tomorrow.”

Unlike most other undergraduate programs, the Longwood nursing department accepts students as freshmen, and they begin training that year. In practice, this means that students get four years of hands-on learning, compared with their counterparts in other programs who typically only receive two years of lab experience.

Longwood’s nursing program is highly competitive, accepting about 80 students per year from hundreds of applications.

It’s a testament to their intellect and commitment to this vocation that we have seen such incredible passing rates among our first-time test-takers. Each of them will enter the workforce prepared to make a difference, and I am so proud of both them and our faculty who have dedicated their careers to preparing the nurses of tomorrow.

Dr. Kim Little, professor and director of the nursing program

“Virginia students who are interested in a career in nursing all know Longwood University,” said Dean of Admissions Jason Ferguson (M.S. ’12). “Our reputation keeps growing, and that’s due to the success of the faculty and students. Students who apply to our program know that they will not only receive the best professional training in the state, but be taught by faculty who are invested in them personally and work with them one-on-one to help them achieve success. There aren’t many other programs across the country that can say that.”

Longwood’s nursing graduates have gone on to careers in surgical trauma, labor & delivery, and emergency care, and more at some of the top hospitals in the country.

“A nursing degree from Longwood means hospitals take note,” said Little. “They know they are hiring a well-trained, well-educated citizen leader who has been in the lab and in simulations since the moment they got to campus. That makes an enormous difference, and it’s part of why we continue to see success in our licensure pass rates.”

Longwood’s nursing department is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Learn more at www.longwood.edu/nursing.

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