Valdosta State University Nursing School Review

Located in southern Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) offers associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees to over 13,000 students. As part of the University System of Georgia, it serves mainly students from Georgia (approximately 90 percent of the student body).

The university is focused on fulfilling the economic needs of the region. In particular, the College of Nursing was founded in 1967 in response to a request from the chairman of a local hospital, who was having difficulty finding nurses to work in the area. Since the start of its first baccalaureate program, the College of Nursing has grown rapidly and continued to fill the needs of southern Georgia. The College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Pre-Licensure

The first program started by the College of Nursing at Valdosta State University was the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, and it continues to be the most basic route into the nursing field. Prospective students do not need any previous nursing experience or education to pursue this degree. After enrolling at Valdosta State University, they must complete sixty credit hours of core university requirements, and then apply to the College of Nursing. Typically, a student is ready to apply to the College of Nursing by the end of sophomore year. If accepted, the student continues on to four semesters of nursing classes in preparation for taking the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX_RN) and beginning work as a Registered Nurse (RN).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Accelerated Program

If a student decides to pursue nursing after earning a degree in a different field, he can apply to the BSN – Accelerated Program. As with the traditional BSN program, he must complete sixty credit hours of core university requirements. However, since he has already completed another degree, it is very likely that he has already met most if not all of these requirements. Excluding any core classes that he needs to finish, the accelerated BSN program takes four semesters. It always begins with a summer semester, and progresses without a break through the next fall, spring, and summer semesters. At the end, a student is qualified to take the NCLEX_RN.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN-BSN

An RN who holds an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, a valid Georgia RN license, and has completed the necessary sixty credits of core classes can apply to the RN to BSN program. This is designed for working RNs who wish to complete it on a part-time basis. It takes four semesters, and requires twenty-eight credits.

Master of Science in Nursing

An RN who wishes to expand her nursing skill set and take more of a leadership role in a healthcare setting has two options for graduate education at Valdosta State University. The College of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with two different tracks. A nurse can study to become a Nurse Practitioner (Adult Health) or to become a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). Both programs require a minimum of thirty-six credits, including clinical hours and a thesis or project. While the MSN programs are intended for RNs who already hold BSN degrees, the College of Nursing does offer a special track for an RN to complete the RN-BSN program and bridge directly into the MSN program. This progression typically requires two and a half years of study.

Contact:
Valdosta State University
1500 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA 31698

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