Sentara College of Health Sciences originated with a Registered Nursing Program over one hundred years ago; it was Norfolk’s first nursing program. Created in 1892 by the 24-bed “Retreat for the Sick,” the two-year program was originally taught by physicians.
Changes in our community brought about the need for additional health technology Programs and Courses. As a result the Surgical Technology Program began in the early 1950s; the Cardiovascular Programs began in 1982; the Monitor Surveillance Course began in 1987; the Care Partner Course began in 1994 and the Nurse Aide Education Course began in 2005. Our last Diploma Nursing Program class started August 2009. Our new Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will begin August 2010 with three ways to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree: Traditional BSN, LPN to BSN, and RN to BSN.
Today, Sentara College of Health Scienes has a faculty of over 40 who teach six Programs/Courses and an annual student body of approximately 549 men and women. Most graduates go on to become members of Sentara’s highly motivated and progressive staff. As such, they have access to the broadest range of professional opportunities available.
Sentara College of Health Sciences offers students a broad range of experiences and opportunities. It is part of Sentara Healthcare, a not-for-profit health system, including multiple hospitals, long-term care facilities, and ambulatory care facilities, committed to bringing the best in healthcare to southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
The College is owned and operated by Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, a 555-bed acute care hospital, serves as a primary teaching facility for the Eastern Virginia Medical School and has earned international recognition for its medical firsts, such as the conception and birth of the nation’s first in-vitro baby and the use of revolutionary procedures in reconstructive surgery. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is also regionally and nationally known for many of its highly specialized services such as cardiac, cancer, high-risk pregnancy center, trauma services, transplant and microsurgery. The hospital is recognized as the area’s only Level I Trauma Center and has been given the Consumer Choice Award as Hampton Roads’ most preferred hospital for over 12 straight years beginning in 1995, based on consumer surveys conducted by the National Research Corporation.
Sentara Healthcare is consistently recognized for outcomes and excellence that surpass national standards. Among our national rankings includes a continuous spot in the top 10 of Modern Healthcare’s 100 Top Integrated Healthcare Networks.