Georgia Board of Nursing Gives Developmental Approval for Associate of Science Nursing Program at Coastal Pines Technical College
May 30, 2018 08:32 AM
The Georgia Board of Nursing recently granted developmental approval for an Associate of Science Nursing (ASN) program at Coastal Pines Technical College. Developmental approval grants the College the permission to begin the development of an ASN program. The College currently offers Nurse Aide and Practical Nursing programs. With the addition of the ASN program, students will have the option to pursue an advanced level of nursing by earning an Associate Degree and gaining the skills and knowledge needed to practice as a Registered Nurse. Graduates of the program will be qualified to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Coastal Pines’ President Glenn Deibert stated, “We are pleased that the Georgia Board of Nursing has given us approval to proceed with developing the nursing program. There is critical need or high demand in our service area for quality graduates to help with the shortage of nurses. This program once developed and with initial approval will be located on the Jesup campus.”
According to Deibert, “Coastal Pines Technical College’s desire to implement the associate degree program has received overwhelming support from key healthcare providers within the 13-county service delivery area. Many of the healthcare partners have expressed a strong need for this program and an interest in hiring the nursing graduates.”
"This is such a great addition to the Jesup campus of Coastal Pines," said Eric Denty, a trustee of the college's foundation. "Dr. Deibert, the college staff, Wayne Memorial Hospital and the trustees have worked hard to help develop and fund this nursing degree program. There is such a need in the state--especially in South Georgia--for more nurses and medical staff. Coastal Pines has helped fill this type of need in the past and this addition is a natural next step."
Next steps for Coastal Pines Technical College will be to transform classroom and lab space with medical equipment and to hire a program director to develop the RN program curriculum. The program will be located in the C. Paul Scott Polytechnical Center on the Jesup campus.
Once the College has the initial site visit by the Georgia Board of Nursing officials, and initial approval is given for the program, up to 40 students per year will be accepted. According to CPTC administrators, students who are interested in the ASN program are encouraged to complete all core classes and prerequisites required for admittance and selection as soon as possible. The program is planned to begin spring semester or January of 2020.
Nursing is recognized as a high demand career, and students enrolled in nursing programs may be able to receive funding through that covers much of the tuition. The funding is possible through Governor Nathan Deal’s creation of the HOPE Career Grant that provides tuition assistance to qualified students enrolled in one of the 17 high demand fields identified as vital to the State’s economic growth. Coastal Pines Technical College currently offers 60 programs that qualify for the HOPE Career Grant. Anyone interested in finding out more about the developing ASN program may contact Dr. Faye Mathis, Dean for Allied Health, at fmathis@coastalpines.edu or call 912.287-4861.
Photo above: nursing students pose on the Alma Campus.
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