On Monday, Sept. 28, Thomas University and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College officials met in Thomasville to sign an articulation agreement that will allow for a smoother transition for Nursing graduates from Wiregrass to continue their studies at TU.
 
“Thomas University is an educational partner rather than competitor with many colleges in our region,” said Dr. Ann Landis, TU Executive Vice President and Provost. “Because Wiregrass offers the Associate of Nursing degree that leads to initial licensure for Registered Nurses, Thomas University can serve the community by putting our resources into offering bachelor’s and master’s programs in Nursing.  Together we ensure that our community’s workforce includes Registered Nurses who have the educational depth to be leaders in delivering excellent healthcare.”
 
WGTC students who earn an Associate Degree in Nursi­­ng and become Registered Nurses can then transition into TU’s Nursing programs. The articulation agreement creates a seamless transition for students who choose to further their Nursing careers.
 
“Wiregrass is proud of the opportunities this partnership will provide,” stated Wiregrass President Dr. Tina K. Anderson.  “We produce top-notch graduates and Thomas University’s hybrid program will allow our graduates the flexibility to move to the next step in their education.”
 
Wiregrass offers a two-year associate level nursing program, where graduates receive an Associate of Science in Nursing degree.  Graduates are then eligible to apply and take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses.  Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN and licensure by the Georgia Board of Nursing, graduates are employed as registered nurses in a variety of settings.
 
“Graduates of the Wiregrass Associate Degree in Nursing program will be eligible to enroll in the RN-BSN or RN-MSN program, depending upon their career goals,” said Dr. Susan Otto, Chair of the TU Division of Nursing. In addition, graduates of the Wiregrass ADN program who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field are eligible for direct admission into the Master of Science in Nursing program without having to earn a second bachelor’s degree in Nursing.  Thomas University MSN graduates have gone on to become leaders in nursing administration and nursing education throughout the Southeastern United States.”
 
Many hospitals in the region now prefer to hire or promote Registered Nurses who also hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Therefore, more nurses choose to pursue an advanced degree.
 
“This is a result of recent recommendations by the Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C., to improve patient care by increasing the number of BSN-prepared Registered Nurses in the U.S. by the year 2020,” Otto said. “The articulation agreement between Thomas University and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is an excellent partnership that brings us closer to achieving this important goal by allowing Registered Nurses to earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing while working full-time as a Registered Nurse.”
 
Otto continued, “Our program is unique because we offer a “hybrid” model of teaching where students meet face-to-face in a traditional classroom environment once per month; all other coursework is completed entirely online. Our students get “the best of both worlds” in terms of personal attention and convenience – the professors get to know them and students never feel like they are just a name or number in a huge online class.”
 
For those Nursing students who decide to pursue an advanced degree, TU’s hybrid format provides them with individualized attention from faculty and interaction with their classmates while still being convenient for those working full-time.