Citing the need for qualified nurses in the area, Lanier Technical College announced in a press release Thursday a new associate of science in nursing program to be offered at its Forsyth County campus, starting with classes in August 2018.

The program will be six semesters and prepare students to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Register Nurses and be eligible for an entry-level position in the nursing field. The release says 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.”

“This is one of our most exciting new program offerings in years,” said Dr. Joanne Tolleson, vice president at Lanier Tech and dean over the Forsyth campus. “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 release states the program is in response to a nation-wide shortage of qualified registered nurses, which is expected to grow as baby boomers age and the need for healthcare grows. The release also cites studies that indicates the need is especially critical in the seven counties served by Lanier Tech.

“This is a critical and constant need,” said Lynn Jackson, administrator of Northside Hospital Forsyth, in the release. “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.”

The program was granted developmental approval by the Georgia State Board of Nursing in July 2017 and is pending approval by its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of College’s and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Interested students may enroll in the pre-nursing track of Lanier Tech’s Interdisciplinary Studies AAS degree and begin classes in August 2018. Students complete program prerequisites as they prepare for application to the associates 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 program will be formally admitted in August 2019.

Information Sessions for prospective students and their families will be held on Tuesday, June 12 (6-8 p.m.); Wednesday, June 13 (2-4 p.m.); Thursday, June 21 (4-6 p.m.); and Thursday, June 28 (9-11 a.m.) in the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center off Exit 13 on Ga. 400. 

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

For more information, visit the college’s website at www.laniertech.edu. You may also contact the college at 678-781-6951 or 770-533-7000.