Dr. Virginia Ruth Corey wants nursing students to practice clinical skills before they ever touch a patient.
Corey, who holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, is the Dean of Academic Affairs at Chamberlain University's new Nashville campus, the school's first location in Tennessee. She said her background in both patient care and the classroom drives how she approaches training.
"I've spent time on both sides of this: in patient care and in the classroom," Corey said in a university announcement. "I know what it takes to prepare a student for the bedside from day one."
Nashville is one of the fastest-growing healthcare markets in the country, Corey said, but growth requires talent ready to contribute immediately. The region faces a real shortage, she said, and graduates need hands-on clinical experience from the start so they can care for patients on day one.
A gap in the workforce
The Covista Care Capacity Monitor 2026, a report fielded by Gallup, found 16.3 open healthcare positions in Nashville for every healthcare graduate, according to the announcement. Statewide, Tennessee had more than 187,000 healthcare vacancies last year, up nearly 34% year over year, against just 4,502 job seekers.
What the program offers
The campus at 2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Suite 250, offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program with day, evening and weekend classes. Rolling admission opens up to six times a year. No prerequisites are required.
Students train in a simulation center on campus before completing clinical rotations with local health system partners, according to the announcement. Licensed practical nurses can receive automatic credit for an active LPN license and may save up to $7,000 on tuition while graduating 16 weeks sooner, according to the campus page.
Chamberlain's 27th campus nationwide, the Nashville location is part of Covista, which the university describes as the nation's largest healthcare educator.
Applications are open. The first cohort begins classes Jan. 4, 2027.
