Gordon State College Nursing Program Review

Founded in 1852, Gordon State College (GSC) is one of Georgia’s oldest colleges. It became part of the University System of Georgia in 1972. It is an ideal setting for students who thrive on small classes (the student-faculty ratio is 25 to 1), a close-knit campus community (the college has approximately 5000 students), and a rural setting (the college is located in Barnesville, in middle Georgia).

Gordon College has five academic divisions, including Nursing and Health Sciences, which is accredited by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. More than 1,600 nurses have passed through this program since its foundation in 1974. Here is a review of the nursing programs offered in this academic division:

Associate of Science in Nursing Degree (ASN)

To earn an associate degree in nursing from Gordon College, a student must plan on studying for three years. This includes prerequisite courses in anatomy, algebra, English, Human Growth and Development, microbiology, American history, and at least one humanities elective. Students must earn at least a C in all prerequisite classes. Gordon accepts transfer credits for these classes, but the biology classes must have been taken within the last five years. If core classes are already complete, a student should be able to earn an associate degree in two years. The practical aspect of the program focuses on ministering to the community. Students do clinical rotations in the homes of patients, in acute-care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and community outreach centers. Students who complete the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree can take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN). After successfully passing this exam, a graduate is a registered nurse (RN).

LPN to RN Bridge Program

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) who wishes to become a registered nurse can apply to the LPN-RN program after gaining one year of experience as an LPN. In order to apply, the LPN must take a dosage calculation test, a skills test, and the LPN STEP test, which will help students and educators to identify areas to improve and assess preparedness. This program begins in the spring only, and takes three semesters to complete. Summer classes are not offered. As with the traditional Associate of Science in Nursing program, at the end of the LPN-RN Bridge program, a graduate is eligible to take the NCLEX to become an RN.

RN to BSN Completion Degree

The RN-BSN Completion Degree program is the most recent addition to the Gordon College Nursing Division. This program allows an RN who has an associate degree/diploma to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. In order to enter the program, a student must have an active nursing license from the Georgia Board of Nursing, and have already completed 60 credit hours of core classes with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (if a student is coming from the Gordon College Associate of Science in Nursing program, these courses should already be complete). If enrolled full time, a student can complete this program in three semesters. The classes are hybrid, some online and some onsite. Students must complete two clinical rotations as well. Completion of the RN to BSN degree program will help a nurse to understand the physical, cultural/social, spiritual, and psychological needs of her patients, and minister appropriately to them.

Contact:
Gordon State College
419 College Drive
Barnesville, GA. 30204

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