The fastest growing program in 2015-2016 at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College was Nursing. This comes as no surprise since the baby boomer generation is aging and nursing jobs are in demand.   As the jobs in the health care industry continue to increase Wiregrass saw a need to add the Associate of Science of Nursing to the Allied Health programs offered.  “The process started in 2012 by applying for program approval through the Georgia Board of Nursing and once the program received initial approval, the first class started in January of 2014,” shared DeAnnia Clements, Dean of Academic Affairs-Allied Health. Word about the new program had circulated during the wait time from 2012 until the first class started and students and former Practical Nursing graduates were ready to start. The first graduating class had a 94.74% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN, and the second graduating class had a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-RN at which point the Georgia Board of Nursing granted full approval. The NCLEX is an exam known as the National Council Licensure Exam that determines if a candidate is prepared for entry-level nursing practice.
 
Wiregrass’s Associate of Science in Nursing program is in the Candidacy Status for Accreditation.  In December 2015, the college started the lengthy process.  “The entire process will take approximately two years,” shared Clements. “A site visit has already been scheduled for September 2017.”  Wiregrass nursing students have over 400 hours of clinical experience before they graduate.  Nursing graduates from Wiregrass’ Practical Nursing and RN programs have the reputation of being well prepared and confident with their skills.  This is largely in part to the clinical sites that partner with the college.  Students are receiving training in many areas of nursing from acute settings like, South Georgia Medical Center, to long-term care setting with Pruitt Healthcare.  Other sites where Wiregrass RN students can be seen include: Valdosta City Schools, Acadia Healthcare, and Behavioral Health Services of South Georgia.  For those interested in partnering with Wiregrass to be an official clinical site contact Director of Clinical Affiliations April Lamon at [email protected] or call 229-293-6261.