The Pulse

Welcome and welcome back to another academic year at Georgia College! The next edition of The Pulse will highlight the new faculty and staff that have joined the COHS team.

While it seems that the start of this semester feels closer to pre-pandemic normal, I am keenly aware that the full impact of the COVID pandemic on our mental health has not been actualized. In the keynote address during First Year Convocation on Friday, August 12th, Dr. Kristina Dandy encouraged us to ask ourselves three questions before we say speak: 1) Is it true?, 2) Is it kind?, and 3) Is it necessary?. I think her suggestion is very appropriate for the times in which we are living. We are all going through things that others are not aware of and we should understand that the same is true for those we encounter. A little kindness can go a long way! A smile can make a difference when passing someone in the hallway! We can be a positive impact on others when we intentionally set our minds to do so. Let’s make this semester the best one yet!!

Go, Bobcats!!

Through the receipt of additional state funding, Georgia College’s School of Nursing (SON) has added a third cohort to their Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

There are only 1,329 nurses per 100,000 residents in Georgia, according to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW) Nursing Workforce Data dashboard.

“It is estimated that an additional 175,900 registered nurses (RNs) will exit the workforce each year for personal reasons or through retirement, and the field is expected to grow by 7%,” said Josie Doss, interim director and associate professor of the SON. “Though Georgia has around 100,000 RNs, we still have one of the lowest densities in the nation. We’re preparing nurses to fill that need.”

The inaugural cohort was admitted this summer and included 40 students. These students will attend classes for four continuous semesters, allowing them to graduate in just 15 months. Traditional nursing students typically do not take courses during the summer and graduate in two years.

Though they are increasing the number of nurses trained at Georgia College, the SON isn’t sacrificing quality to meet Georgia healthcare needs.

Following their summer semester, students in the cohort will have a schedule typical of fall and spring cohorts. The following summer, the students will graduate ahead of their peers because of their rigorous summer semesters.

For more of this Front Page story click HERE.

The Nursing Schools Almanac released its 2022 rankings of the best U.S. nursing schools. We are pleased to share that Georgia College & State University(GCSU) was included. Data was collected from 3,000 institutions, and only 3% made the list of the 100 best nursing schools in the nation.

Summary of GCSU School of Nursing placement:

• #73 nursing school in the United States
• #42 among public nursing schools
• #17 overall in the Southeast region
• #2 overall in Georgia

View the rankings article and a more detailed description of the assessment methodology HERE.

Way to go School of Nursing!

This year, we returned to a face-to-face orientation for our MSN and post-MSN students. Both students and faculty have greatly missed this great start for students entering our graduate nursing programs since COVID-19 forced us to orient students online for the last two years.

Often referred to as "immersion," this experience is a way for all of our new students to come together with faculty, staff and other members of their cohort. We feel that this sets our program apart from other nursing programs and provides an excellent foundation for all students to begin their programs of study. The in-person orientation experience gives all students the knowledge and tools they need to be successful in graduate nursing programs.

Staff from across campus come to onboard students and answer questions about a myriad of topics, including our online learning systems, library services and setting up their electronic portfolios, in addition to the information they receive from faculty and staff about course work and clinical placements or requirements.

We feel that it is essential for our students to make connections with students and faculty and learn how to reach out if they have questions or issues during their time in our nursing program. While we certainly made the best of the virtual onboarding process over the past two years, students and faculty alike are very thankful to return to the tradition of gathering together in person to ensure student success.

Pictured top left to right: Nurse Midwifery and Psychiatric Mental Health NP

Pictured bottom left to right: Family Nurse Practitioners, Women's Health Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Educator

We are excited to announce a 100% pass rate for all of Georgia College's Women's Health students who graduated in May 2022. Our first Georgia College nurse midwife students successfully passed the American Midwifery Certification Exam and are certified nurse-midwives. Our second cohort of women's health nurse practitioner students passed the National Certification Corporation and are now certified women's health nurse practitioners. Our women's health faculty and core graduate nursing faculty have supported another successful cohort of students. All students have successfully secured jobs and are on a mission to impact maternal mortality in Georgia. Congratulations to all!

A former doctor of nursing practice student, Shanna-Kaye Igbinoba, received the Bloomberg Fellowship Award, which provides a full tuition scholarship at Johns Hopkins University for her to complete her master of public health. Her focus is on Adolescents & Young Adult Research at the CORE Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Congratulations Shanna-Kaye!

The COHS Leadership Board Retreat was held on Friday, July 29, from 10 AM-2 PM. Our main goal was to get Board members to engage, network, reconnect and have fun during this event. The retreat started with a comprehensive tour of the Old Governor’s Mansion with Matt Davis, Director of Historic Museums. Matt shared many stories and fun facts during our Old Governor’s Mansion tour.

After lunch, Liz Speelman, Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Education and Director of the Outdoor Center, led the group in team-building activities where we all had a chance to share ideas, build bonds, and strengthen relationships. “What a perfect opportunity to take a step back from our day-to-day work and spend time with other Board members!” said Kevin Carter, Chair of the COHS Leadership Board. #cohsboardrocks

On Wednesday, August 3, 2022, nursing students are invited to attend the Nursing Recruitment Fair in Peabody Auditorium, next to Kilpatrick Hall. This event is a great opportunity to gather information on career opportunities and make initial contacts with potential employers. Over 20 organizations are expected to attend.

You never have a second chance to make a first impression, so business attire is encouraged for this event, particularly for those graduating and seeking full-time jobs and internships. You may also wear attire appropriate for your profession if you are in clinical rotations or reporting to work in the healthcare profession that day.

Resumes are also highly encouraged so that you can leave information about yourself with the representatives. Even if you have applied online, it helps the recruiter know who you are when you follow up with them at a later date. For assistance with your resume, contact the Career Center at 110 Lanier Hall or make an appointment via Unify.

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Email: healthsciences@gcsu.edu
Website: www.gcsu.edu
Location: 231 West Hancock Street, Milledgeville, GA, USA
Phone: 478-445-5771
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