Georgia Highlands College (GHC) is part of the public University System of Georgia. It receives institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges. Undergraduate nursing programs are offered through the Nursing Department, and are specially accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The main campus of GHC is in Rome, Georgia, and there are four additional campuses between Georgia and Alabama. GHC was ranked as the best value college in Georgia in the two-year programs category.
GHC offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with one entry/ completion path. This is an RN track completion program for students who have completed an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing and hold a current license as a Registered Nurse. While GHC does not have a traditional four-year BSN program, there is an Associate of Science and Nursing (ASN) degree. Graduating from this ASN program and passing the NCLEX-RN professional licensing exam makes you eligible to apply for the RN track BSN program.
Degrees and concentrations offered at this school include:
- Bachelor of Science – RN to BSN (Completion Program, online)
This BSN program has been designed to cater to working nurses. Courses are delivered online asynchronously, meaning that students can watch at their convenience, rather than having to watch live at a specific time. Graduates of the program can potential find nursing career roles in: community centers; doctor’s offices; educational facilities; government/military; home health care; hospitals; insurance companies; medical equipment and suppliers; nursing homes; outpatient care facilities; pharmaceutical companies.
The courses in the RN program are entirely online; however, an on-campus orientation takes place in the Summer term before the program starts. Students can choose between full-time (three semesters) or part-time (4+ semesters) study. Students will complete 86-92 credits of Major/ support courses, which consists of nursing, biology, psychology, math and sociology. Credits will be granted towards this total based on previously completed associate/ diploma coursework and licensure. The curriculum includes a Community Research Project and a Clinical Leadership Practicum.
Sample courses include:
- Concepts of Professional Nursing
- Health Assessment
- Nursing Perspectives of Historical and Political Issues
- Foundations of Nursing Research
- Community Health Nursing