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Fall 2003 Volume 7 Number 1 |
Home » MSC Today Magazine » Fall 2003 » Filling A Need
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Filling a Need Committed to helping alleviate Central
Georgia’s shortage of professional nurses,
Macon State College’s nursing programs aren’t merely hot. They’re sizzling. Enrollment in the associate degree program is booming, and new applications pour in at a record pace – up 66 percent over last academic year. The College is also putting the finishing touches on a bachelor of science in nursing that will roll out in Fall 2004, pending Georgia Board of Nursing approval. And soon, Macon State’s Division of Nursing & Health Sciences will move to state-of-the-art facilities in the new Charles H. Jones Building, Macon State’s latest construction project. “For faculty and students alike, it’s a great time to be in the nursing programs at Macon State College,” said Dr. Pam O’Neal, chair of the Division of Nursing & Health Sciences. “Thanks to all the support we’ve gotten from the community, we’ve been able to add faculty and accept more students. At the same time, the growth in the number of applications means that gaining admission is more competitive. We’ve always produced top-quality graduates, but the first-year nursing students here now make up one of the strongest classes ever.” The students who entered the associate degree program this fall will soon be joined by an additional class. In January, the beginning of spring semester, Macon State will accept a second class of nursing students who will pursue their degrees as a cohort. Traditionally, the College has each academic year accepted one class of nursing students, who begin their studies in the fall semester. By accepting a second cohort each spring semester, Macon State will bring the number of nursing graduates each year to about 100. To handle the larger enrollment, Macon State hired additional nursing faculty this academic year, supported by financial gifts from the Medical Center of Central Georgia. Coliseum Health Systems and several private physicians have also provided financial support for Macon State College’s nursing programs.
“Macon State’s nursing program is the perfect fulfillment of the College’s mission to graduate students who are grounded in the liberal arts, and have also developed specific expertise to meet Central Georgia’s professional workforce needs,” said MSC President David A. Bell. “The region needs more RNs to support quality healthcare, and we are positioning the College to help meet that need.” The underlying cause of the RN shortage is a complex mix of variables. Extended hospital stays now are generally limited to patients with the most serious health problems, resulting in the need for more intense and specialized nursing care. Aging baby boomers are beginning to tax the healthcare system. And, until recently, nationwide enrollment in nursing degree programs was in decline, meaning fewer new RNs to replace those retiring. As a result, professional nursing is one of a precious few careers where employment is practically guaranteed, regardless of the overall condition of the job market. That’s certainly driving renewed interest in nursing degrees, but applicants to the Macon State College program need more than the desire for steady paychecks. “Professional nursing requires a combination of skills,” O’Neal said. “You have to have an aptitude for math and science. You have to be able to juggle a number of tasks at the same time. And you have to care about people and be able to show compassion.” Take Mechelle Bryand, 23. A second-year student in the associate degree program, Bryand appreciates the potential job security but loves the caregiving role of nursing. “I can remember when I was 8 or 9 years old, anytime anyone in my family felt ill, I would be the one to give them hot soup or put the Band-Aid on the cut,” Bryand said. “While my peers were struggling to find out what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives, I already knew I wanted to be a nurse.”
“One of the strengths of the nursing program is the diversity of our students,” O’Neal said. “They bring a variety of life experiences to their classes and are able to learn from each other.” While managing the growth of the associate degree program, Macon State is preparing to introduce a baccalaureate degree in nursing, known as an RN-to-BSN completion program. Pending approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing, the College will introduce the program in Fall 2004 and begin accepting applications from practicing RNs this January. Graduates of associate degree nursing programs and hospital diploma programs can obtain licensure to become Registered Nurses, but more RNs nationwide are seeking bachelor’s degrees for career advancement. In approving the development of Macon State’s RN-to-BSN program in April 2002, the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents noted that a baccalaureate education improves “the analytical and critical-thinking skills of nurses that are essential in today’s high-acuity hospital environment.” “Our associate degree will continue to produce quality graduates for entry-level RN practice and remain a vibrant part of our nursing program,” said Rebecca J. Corvey, Macon State’s new director of nursing programs. “The RN-to-BSN completion degree will produce graduates prepared to assume leadership roles in the increasingly complex world of healthcare. That’s as critical to solving the nursing shortage as increasing the number of associate degree graduates.” Corvey noted that while Macon State is fortunate to have a strong and fully staffed nursing faculty, many colleges and universities nationwide are having difficulty finding instructors as baby boomer RNs with the advanced degrees needed to teach begin entering retirement. “By offering strong associate degree and RN-to-BSN completion programs,” Corvey said, “Macon State will be a major player in increasing the number of nurses ready for entry-level practice, as well as those aspiring for leadership roles in education and administration.” |
