1950
1950 Josephine McLeod-Ethel Smith Scholarship Fund
The GNAV established a scholarship fund in honor of two past Secretary-Treasurers of the Virginia State Board of Examiners of Nurses to be awarded to registered nurses wishing to continue their education. One dollar per capita from the annual membership dues was used to maintain the fund.
1952 Virginia League for Nursing Education becomes Virginia League for Nursing
The name of the VLNE was changed to the Virginia League for Nursing (VLN) when five national nursing organizations were restructured to create the National League for Nursing.
1952 Student Nurses Organize
On October 11, 1952, one hundred and four student nurses from twenty-four of the schools of nursing in Virginia met in Richmond and organized the Student Nurse Association of Virginia.
1953 Racial Integration of the GNAV
On January 1, 1953, the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia (GNAV) became the 45th state nurses association to integrate its membership.
1954 Associate Degree Program in Nursing
Virginia Intermont College in Bristol and the Norfolk State College in Norfolk were pilot associate degree nursing programs in the United States.
1955 Bits of News becomes Virginia Nurse Quarterly
The Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia (GNAV) changed the name of its official journal to the Virginia Nurse Quarterly
1955 Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia becomes the Virginia State Nurses Association
At the recommendations of the GNAV District Presidents the name of the association was changed to the Virginia State Nurses Association (VSNA).
1958 Scholarships for Registered Nurses
The Appropriation Act of 1958 provided for five scholarships of $1,000 each for registered nurses. These scholarships were to be used for preparation for teaching and supervision in schools of nursing.