Nursing at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital's Mission Statement: Dedicated to safe, quality patient care with a commitment to excellence and professionalism

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Named Magnet Hospital

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is the first in southeastern Virginia to be named a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Less than 5 percent of U.S. hospitals have earned this credential.  

Research indicates that Magnet hospitals consistently outperform their peers in recruiting and retaining nurses, which leads to high-quality care, lower recruitment, training and temporary labor costs and more stable institutions. Magnet hospitals encourage and support continuing education and professional growth. Magnet hospitals develop a strong professional culture of cooperation among nurses, physicians and allied professionals, which enhances patient safety and improves outcomes.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, a 525-bed facility, is home to the area's only Level I Trauma Center and burn trauma unit. For 12 straight years, the National Research Corporation has named Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Hampton Roads Consumer's Choice award winner. Sentara Norfolk General Hospital includes Sentara Heart Hospital, the region's first and only dedicated heart hospital is unlike any facility within hundreds of miles. It unites a long-standing team of cardiac super-specialists within an advanced setting built from the ground up for superior cardiac care.

Specialty Nursing Areas

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital includes a varied selection of specialty nursing areas. Learn more about the specialty areas at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital - click on the name of the specialty area to the left side of this page to learn more about each area.

Forensic Nurse Examiners Program

The Forensic Nurse Examiners Program is based out of the Emergency Department at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.  Forensic Nurse Examiners are Registered Nurses specializing in providing immediate, comprehensive medical-forensic examinations and evidence collection on sexual assault and domestic violence victims.  This includes a PERK (Physical Evidence Recovery Kit) and suspect kits, along with photographs and documentation.  The program provides appropriate laboratory testing, prophylactic STI(sexually transmitted infections) medications, and emergency contraception to victims.  Forensic Nurse Examiners maintain chain of custody procedures of evidence and are qualified to provide testimony in court.  The group works in conjunction with local law enforcement, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and Response crisis services.  The FNE program is part of a SART (Sexual Assault Response Team), a multidisciplinary team made up of medical, legal, law enforcement, social/crisis services, and victim assistance programs.  The program provides lectures and training on domestic violence/intimate partner violence and sexual assault to colleges and universities, community groups, victim advocates and law enforcement.

As the region’s first Magnet Hospital, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, a 525-bed tertiary care facility, is home to the area's only Level I Trauma Center, burn trauma unit and nationally ranked heart program at Sentara Heart Hospital. In addition to a first rate heart program, the hospital is home to Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance and several dedicated facilities and specialized services.