Getting A License In Georgia
To become an RN in Georgia, you need to:
- Take and pass the NCLEX-RN
- Complete a criminal background check
- Complete the Georgia Board of Nursing application
Compared to other states, Georgia doesnt require too much from prospective nurses. However, if your goal is to become a nurse in Georgia, its still a smart decision to look at schools in the state. Faculty and staff often have local connections, and this type of networking can help you land your first nursing position!
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Make A Difference In Healthcare
Our healthcare industry needs dedicated professionals now, more than ever. Mercer Universitys College of Professional Advancement and Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offer degree and certificate programs designed to prepare you to thrive in your chosen role. We are here to help you on your journey toward a fulfilling and rewarding career in healthcare.
Msn Dnp Phd And Graduate Certificates
All graduate didactic courses will be held online. Defenses and project presentations will take place on campus Zoom presentations will be permitted if the student would be burdened by excessive travel. Classes that utilize the skills lab will have skills lab sessions on campus. Students are expected to locate details associated with classroom and lab sessions on their CANVAS course pages.
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Rn To Bsn Completion Track
The RN to BSN Completion track is for designed for registered nurses who graduated from an accredited associate degree or diploma nursing program and met the following conditions:
- Successfully completed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses
- Proof of current unencumbered Georgia license to practice as a Registered Nurse
Applicants with RN licensure and/or residency outside of Georgia may be considered for admission on an individual basis in accordance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. Mercer University College of Nursing participates in the Georgia RN-BSN Articulation Model.
Semester 3 Summer Semester
- NUR 601: Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development, 2 hours
- NUR 675: Statistics for the Behavioral and Clinical Sciences, 3 hours
- NUR 623: Primary Care Practicum II, 3 hours/180 clinical hours
- NUR 634: Care of Adults in the Primary Care Setting II, 3 hours
- NUR 620: Capstone Project, 2 hours
Total semester credit hours: 13
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Key Factors That Affect Nursing School Tuition
Keep in mind that colleges and universities reserve the right to change tuition rates at any time. The yearly tuition rates listed here will vary for each individual student depending on various factors including,
Check with the specific school for current tuition rates.
Mercer University Nursing School Review
Although no longer affiliated with the Baptist church, Mercer University draws on its roots as a Baptist school by emphasizing community service, both on its three campuses in Macon, Atlanta, and Savannah, and in the surrounding communities. It remains committed to its liberal arts foundation, while also focusing on giving students the professional knowledge they need for careers in a technologically advancing world.
One area of professional study at Mercer University is nursing. The Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs in nursing, and is approved by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Georgia Board of Nursing.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Master of Science in Nursing
After earning a BSN and working in the nursing field, a nurse may wish to expand her career options by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing degree. Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offers an MSN program with three different areas of specialization. Nurses can specialize in nursing education, in acute care , or in family medicine . Becoming a Nurse Educator requires thirty-eight credit hours becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist requires thirty-seven credit hours. To become a Family Nurse Practitioner requires forty-nine hours.
Nurse Educator Certificate Program
Doctorate in Nursing Program
Contact:
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Nurse Salary And Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ,
- As of 2020, Georgia employs 73,230 nurses, higher than most states.
- The annual mean wage for nurses in Georgia is $71,510, or $34.38 per hour. While this is lower than the national average, Georgia has a lower standard of living than most other states. Pay for nurses can also be higher in denser urban areas like Atlanta.
One big advantage of studying in Georgia is the high demand for registered nurses. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs- Roswell metropolitan area is a top employer for registered nurses, according to the BLS.
Prior to beginning a long, successful nursing career, the best place to start is earning a BSN. After, graduates will take the NCLEX, become a registered nurse, and find employment. Because nurses depend on so many factors to get a job, the school you choose could determine your future career.
Bsn To Dnp With Family Nurse Practitioner
This program is for registered nurses who completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and desire to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Family Nurse Practitioner specialty. A student completing this specialty track will be prepared to meet requirements to take the Family Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
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Admissions Requirements For The Absn Program
Mercer Universitys Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing track is designed for students who have non-nursing bachelors degrees and are interested in becoming a nurse. Though previous healthcare experience is not necessary to be eligible for our Accelerated BSN program, there are certain nursing school requirements you will need to meet before you can begin the admissions process.
Bsn To Dnp With Adult
This program is for registered nurses who completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and desire to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty. A student completing this specialty track will be prepared to meet requirements to take the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
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Mercer University Announces New Accelerated Nursing Program On The Atlanta Campus
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Mercer University Georgia Baptist College of Nursing has announced a new Accelerated Bachelors of Science in Nursing program will start this month. The program was created in response to Georgias ongoing nursing shortage and is designed to be a cost-effective way for students with a non-nursing bachelors degree to earn their BSN in as little as a year.
The program is a collaboration between GBCN and Orbis Education, a company that partners with universities in order to expand and improve on their existing pre-professional programs, primarily in the nursing and occupational therapy fields. The program is looking to admit eight lab groups with 12 students per group for the first semester.
According to Aaron Van Berg, an admissions counselor at GBCN, Georgia is one of the most severely understaffed states in the country. Georgia needs an estimated additional 13,510 nurses by 2026 to keep up with a rapidly growing population. Atlanta was named one of the best cities for nurses by Forbes with an estimated salary of $63,862 due to the current shortage.
To learn more about Mercer Universitys new accelerated nursing program based on its Atlanta campus, visit here.
We Equip You For Success In Healthcare
Professional growth is a continuous process, and we equip you to be at your best so you can serve with excellence. Our programs prepare you for continued success and allow you to:
- Advance your career goals or transition to a new profession
- Explore different opportunities in the healthcare arena
- Deliver better patient care at any level of service
Our practical approach to teaching and partnerships with local healthcare facilities complement classroom instruction to provide a well-rounded education. Graduates of our programs are qualified to choose from several healthcare roles such as business analyst, healthcare human-computer interaction designer, nurse practitioner, and nursing information specialist.
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Choose From A Variety Of Programs To Invest In Your Growth As A Healthcare Professional
The College of Professional Advancement and Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offer a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Our degrees prepare you to lead the way in healthcare, advance services through technology, or improve patient care on the frontline. You may review some of our healthcare programs below or visit each colleges website for more information.
Undergraduate Programs
Alexandra Ruiz Dnp Fnp
Alexandra “Alex” Stouffer Ruiz is a board-certified nurse practitioner who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University in 2011 where she was a member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. She began her career as a labor and delivery registered nurse for several years ultimately ending at Northside Hospital, which is the busiest Labor and Delivery unit in the country. She pursued her master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in 2014 while continuing to work as a Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse. There she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Alex has worked in a primary care setting for several years including family practice, internal medicine, and gynecology. She has also worked in nursing education and was vital in helping to develop one of the nation’s first 12 month Accelerated BSN programs. After several years of working as a Certified Nurse Practitioner, Alex decided to further her education and received her Doctorate degree from Georgia Baptist in 2019. Since obtaining her Doctorate degree, Alex has continued to follow her passion in the field of primary care / internal medicine seeing patients of all ages for various conditions.
Alex is a Georgia native. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
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Second Degree Accelerated Track
The second degree accelerated BSN track is designed for students who have an earned non-nursing bachelors degree and seek to pursue the BSN degree. This pathway is designed to facilitate the completion of the BSN degree over 3-semesters and includes exclusive asynchronous online classroom learning, as well as in-person skills lab and clinical practice
Important Considerations When Comparing Schools:
While a high NCLEX pass rate may seem attractive, its important to note that these pass rates typically only represent a recent graduating class. Just because 95% of students passed the NCLEX last year doesnt guarantee the same results for when you graduate in four years.
This is why students should consider multiple factors prior to choosing which school to attend. Factors to consider include:
- Size of the school
- The schools accreditation
Why you should care about the nursing programs accreditation
Nursing students who complete their studies at a non-accredited university will not be able to sit for the NCLEX. Therefore, they will face immense challenges in securing stable, well-paying jobs. Why? Because students who do not take the NCLEX are not eligible to work as Registered Nurses.
The two nursing program accrediting organizations are,
These accrediting bodies ensure that all accredited nursing programs adhere to the same standard and criteria.
You should never feel pressured to pick a school just because it seems like a good enough college. Youll be spending four years here, along with thousands in tuition. Be sure that youre making the best pick for your personal goals.
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Mercer Alumna Makes Impact As Nurse And Influencer
A Mercer University nursing alumna is impacting not only her patients but also other professionals in the nursing community.
Clara Jones, who graduated with her bachelors degree from the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in 2018, is the founder of Nurse Clara, a lifestyle brand and blog, and the Asian Care Unit, a community for Asian American and Pacific Islander health care professionals. Her account has 91,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts about nursing, mental health and self-care.
Jones has fostered these communities while working as a labor and delivery nurse in Atlanta and pursuing her masters at Georgia State University. She graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing and was certified as a family nurse practitioner in December 2021. She is currently seeking a job as a family nurse practitioner, preferably in womens health.
Growing up, Jones, an only child, saw how her mother struggled with infertility and suffered through pregnancy losses. But through it all, she was surrounded by caring health care providers.
Looking back on my mothers story, I just want to be the nurses that she had, said Jones, who was born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. when she was 7. Being a first-generation immigrant meant that you had spotty health care, and the cultural barriers were very difficult. Im very honored to say that Im in a position where now I am a provider, and Im able to really listen to my patients and understand where theyre coming from.