As health care systems across Virginia continue to face a shortage of nurses, Old Dominion University is expanding its nursing program by adding a spring admission cycle for the first time in more than 30 years.
Lynn Wiles, an associate professor and the chair of the Department of Professional Nursing, said the change is part of the university’s effort to strengthen the state’s health care workforce.
“We know that we need nurses. We know that there’s a shortage,” Wiles said. “So we’ll be feeding the nursing workforce at two entry times of the year, versus currently, our graduates only come out in May.”
Until now, ODU’s pre-licensure nursing program accepted students only in the fall. The additional spring cohort will begin in January 2026, with enrollment expected to expand by nearly 60% once fully implemented by 2027.
The five-semester pre-licensure nursing program — designed for students who are not yet registered nurses — will maintain the same curriculum, courses and admission standards as the fall cohort.
The spring class will be capped at 48 students.
Wiles said that with the addition of a spring cohort, some courses that were previously offered once a year will now be taught twice. Faculty are determining which courses will be prioritized each semester.
The department is also hiring four new faculty members, including simulation educators and technicians, to support instruction and hands-on clinical training.
One of the major bottlenecks to training more nurses has been the shortage of faculty to train larger classes. Federal legislation has tried to address that, but experts say nurses often make far more in the field than in academia.
To become a registered nurse, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in nursing must first pass the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
After passing the exam and receiving approval from the state where they plan to work, candidates are officially licensed as registered nurses and can begin practicing.
