Nursing Associate Degree (NU43)
The Registered Nursing (RN) associate degree program is designed to provide nursing courses that when successfully completed award graduates an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Graduates are then eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN and licensure by the Georgia Board of Nursing, graduates are employable as registered nurses. The Nursing program is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217-3858; phone 478.207.1640. The Nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326; phone 404.975.5000. https://www.acenursing.org/
NOTE: In 2010, the Institute of Medicine prepared a report on the future of nursing. One of the recommendations from the report is to increase the proportion of baccalaureate nurses to 80% by 2020. Graduates of associate degree programs are encouraged to enter a baccalaureate program within five years of graduation.
It is the position of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) (2013), in collaboration with other national nursing organizations, to support opportunities for academic progression. The ADN faculty at West Georgia Technical College are dedicated to providing our students and graduates every opportunity for academic progression through our Baccalaureate Bound initiative. We are committed to working with nursing and education leaders within our state to prepare a well-educated and diverse nursing workforce.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may find opportunities in a wide variety of settings, including, but not limited to, acute care in hospitals and long term care facilities, outpatient clinics, physicians’ offices, home health care agencies, private or governmental industries, schools, and hospice programs.
Competitive Selection Process
Registered Nursing Preparatory/Core Course
The Murphy Campus will admit once a year in the fall semester. The Murphy Campus competitive selection deadline will be June 1. The Lagrange Campus will admit once a year in the spring semester. The Lagrange Campus competitive selection deadline will be September 1. The Coweta Campus will admit once a year in the summer semester. The Coweta Campus competitive selection deadline will be February 1. To be eligible for the Registered Nursing program selection, the student must complete the following requirements by the applicable deadline. The student:
- Must complete the following courses with a minimum grade of C: BIOL 2113/BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114/BIOL 2114L, ENGL 1101, MATH 1111, and PSYC 1101.
- Must complete BIOL 2117/BIOL 2117L with a minimum grade of C prior to entry into the program, but grades for these two courses are not calculated in the GPA for the competitive selection process.
Registered Nursing Competitive Selection
In addition to completion of the core courses listed above, the Registered Nursing program requires students in competitive selection to complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Exam. Please refer to the Admissions section of this catalog for details of the Competitive Selection Process applicant requirements and scoring method, including bonus points. Additional information is also available on the RN program web page.
Students ranked with the highest overall scores for required course completion and TEAS exam will be selected for program admission.
Registered Nursing Occupational and Clinical Courses
Students selected for admission to the Registered Nursing program will complete the occupational and clinical program courses in a prescribed sequence as a cohort. One nursing course is taken each semester for a total of six consecutive semesters.
Credit Required for Graduation: Minimum of 70 credit hours
Curriculum
The Associate Degree in Nursing program requires a minimum of 15 credit hours** of general education courses as specified below (all course prerequisites must be met):
General Core Courses
Area I requirements (minimum 3 hours; must include ENGL 1101)
Area II requirements (minimum 3 hours; must include PSYC 1101)
Area III requirements (minimum 3 hours; must include MATH 1111)
Area IV requirements (minimum 3 hours)
Additional 3 hours from Area I, II, III or IV
Occupational Courses