University of West Georgia Nursing School Review

Offering 106 programs of study to approximately 11,600 students, the University of West Georgia (UWG) is one of the biggest schools in the state. It confers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, and certificates in the arts, humanities, sciences, mathematics, education, business, and nursing.

The School of Nursing at the University of West Georgia, which is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing, offers programs at both the bachelor’s level and the master’s level.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Pre-Licensure

The University of West Georgia offers a traditional, four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program at its Carrollton campus, as well as a part-time option on its Newnan campus. (Although the Newnan program is part-time, classes are offered in the daytime and the program is not structured for students who wish to work full-time.) The program is intended for students who have no experience or education in the nursing field. It consists of sixty credit hours of core classes and sixty credit hours of nursing classes and clinical rotations. The BSN program begins with a summer semester; a student begins the program after having completed all core requirements. At the end of the program, a student can take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN).

Please note that since August 2011, CNA certification is compulsory for those who start nursing programs in June. Those prospective nursing students with a valid Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License from the state of Georgia are exempted from this pe-requisite. Neveretheless, certified and licensed healthcare/medical professionals like those with Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) training will still need to have completed CNA certification. Those with CNA certification but have not been practicing for two years or more will need gain recertification.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN-BSN

This is a RN to Bachelor’s Bridge Program. Experienced, working Registered Nurses (RN) are eligible to complete a full baccalaureate degree through the University of West Georgia’s RN-BSN program. This program would be an excellent option for an RN who holds an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree and wishes to expand his career potential. The program is offered on the main campus at Carrolton, at Newnan, as well as through Georgia Highlands College in Rome. At least half of the program takes place online, allowing flexibility for Registered Nurses who are working. As with the traditional BSN Pre-Licensure program, the RN to BSN program requires 120 credits for graduation. A student in this program must complete 60 credits of core classes (and is welcome to transfer classes he has already taken toward these 60 credits, if applicable). His ASN degree and work experience as an RN, however, allow him to transfer up to forty-four credits toward the nursing component of the BSN program. He only needs to complete sixteen credit hours of nursing classes. The program begins once a year in the fall.

Master of Science in Nursing

The University of West Georgia prepares nurses to for leadership in the nursing field through its Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. For a student who already holds a BSN, the MSN program requires four semesters of full-time study. The student chooses one of two tracks within the MSN program: nursing education or healthcare systems leadership. If she specializes in healthcare systems leadership, she is eligible to receive certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. There is also a special RN to MSN option for RNs who wish to complete their BSN degrees and MSN degrees at the same time. This program begins each fall, and the program length varies depending on the amount of core classes a student needs to fulfill.

Post-Master’s Certification

A nurse who has already earned an MSN can choose to gain certification in either nursing education or healthcare systems leadership without completing the full MSN program. He can take ten credits toward his specialization and sit for the corresponding national certification exam.

Contact:
University of West Georgia
1601 Maple St.
Carrollton, GA 30118

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