FYI: Area College Expands Nursing Program

A South Georgia school is crossing county borders to help reduce the growing nursing shortage.

Southwest Georgia Technical College has partnered with Valdosta Technical College to offer an Associates Degree in Nursing program. VTCl provides a 3,086 square foot class/lab space and 201 square feet for faculty office space and will provide library resources and a wide range of equipment to the program.

Officials say over the next three years, about 300 registered nurses will be needed to fill vacancies in community hospitals and healthcare facilities in Southwest Georgia.

"The need for nursing is continuing to grow. There's still a shortage, not only in our local community but across the United States for nurses. So this program was actually started to meet that need, in hopes that we could continue to offer excellent care to our patients," Tammy Bryant, Off-campus Coordinator, said.

The first ADN class in the joint program will graduate in 2011 with 16 students and the The Georgia Board of Nursing has given approval for the program to admit its second class of students.

Deadline to apply for SWGTC’s ADN program at VTC is June 30th. More information may be obtained by calling 229-227-2980 or Darlene Boyd 229-333-2100 ext 3084.