Lanier Technical College Offers Associate of Science in Nursing

Lanier Technical College has announced a new Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program which prepares students to take the NCLEX-RN exam and work as Registered Nurses (RNs), pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The program will be offered at the college’s Forsyth Campus.

Dr. Joanne Tolleson, a Vice President at Lanier Technical College and Dean over the Forsyth Campus, says “This is one of our most exciting new program offerings in years. The need for qualified nurses in our area is tremendous, and it’s growing. Lanier Technical College’s mission is workforce development, and I can’t think of a better way to fulfill that mission than preparing skilled nurses who can provide the quality healthcare we need.”

The nation as a whole is experiencing an acute shortage of qualified Registered Nurses, and the shortage is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows. The American Journal of Medical Quality projects a national shortage of 300,000 to 1,000,000 RN jobs by 2020.

The need is especially acute in the seven counties served by Lanier Technical College. Labor market studies indicate that there are currently 3,856 RN jobs in the Lanier Tech service delivery area and 391 annual job openings. These figures are projected to rise by 41% in the next 10 years. This increase far outstrips the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s projected national rise of 15%. Northeast Georgia Health System and Northside Hospital’s Forsyth Facility – the two largest healthcare employers in the area – expect to hire several hundred RNs within the next two years.

Lynn Jackson, Administrator of Northside Hospital Forsyth, says “This is a critical and constant need. It’s difficult to attract talented nurses to Forsyth County when we compete with hospitals all over the country for these much sought after professionals. Having a pool of well-prepared nurses who graduate right here will be a tremendous benefit to the hospital and to the people who live in this area.”

Lanier Technical College is helping to address these needs with a new associate degree program in Nursing. This six-semester program prepares students as entry-level practitioners who can provide safe, effective nursing care for culturally diverse clients in a variety of settings. The program develops critical thinking, integrates accumulated knowledge from nursing, the sciences and humanities, and emphasizes the values of caring, accountability, responsibility and professional ethics.

Graduates are eligible 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 in a variety of settings. Labor market studies show the annual salary for Registered Nurses to be around $65,000.

Lanier Technical College President Dr. Ray Perren states, “This program affords students to prepare for a successful career in nursing while graduating with little or no debt. This six-semester program is designed to prepare graduates for work in a well-respected, high-demand career. “

Lanier Tech’s Associate of Science in Nursing Program was granted developmental approval by the Georgia State Board of Nursing (GSBON) in July 2017 and the program is pending approval by its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of College’s and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Interested students may enroll in the Pre-Nursing track of Lanier Tech’s Interdisciplinary Studies AAS degree and begin classes in August 2018. Students in the Interdisciplinary Studies Pre-Nursing track complete program prerequisites as they prepare for application to the ASN program’s competitive admissions process. A cohort of 30 students will be admitted each year, based on applicants’ TEAS Test of Essential Academic Skills scores, GPAs, and related considerations. The first cohort of Lanier Tech’s ASN program will be formally admitted in August 2019.

Information Sessions for prospective students and their families will be held on June 12 (6:00 – 8:00 pm), June 13 (2:00 – 4:00 pm), June 21 (4:00 – 6:00 pm), and June 28 (9:00 – 11:00 am) in the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center off Exit 13 on GA Highway 400.

Applicants with a completed admissions file are eligible to register during the Priority Registration period open from June 25 to June 27th and July 1 to July 16, 2018. The application deadline for Priority Registration is June 14. Late registration will extend through August 2. Application deadline for fall term is July 23, 2018. Classes begin August 6.

Lanier Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

For more information about the nursing field, Lanier Technical College’s ASN program, and the application process please visit the College’s website at www.laniertech.edu and http://www.laniertech.edu/ASN. You may also contact the College at 678-781-6951 or 770-533-7000. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at http://www.laniertech.edu/GE.aspx.