GAINESVILLE, Ga., Jan. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This semester marks the beginning of the Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville Campus and the debut of a new classroom and simulation lab, each with cutting-edge learning technology.
"It's exciting that this program will help us better meet the healthcare needs of Hall County and its surrounding communities," said Dr. Kim Hudson-Gallogly, head of UNG's Department of Nursing. "We can also attract students from the north Atlanta and Athens areas to be part of our program. Initially, we will accept 60 students a year on this campus. Our inaugural class is a very excited and diverse group with high GPAs and impressive academic records. We know they will make very successful healthcare professionals."
Also new to the Gainesville Campus is the Technology-Enabled Active Learning (TEAL) classroom. TEAL is a teaching methodology that merges lectures, simulations, case studies, and problem-based learning activities to create a rich collaborative learning experience.
"Students bring a wealth of experiential learning to the classroom, and with the use of TEAL, the student and the teacher stimulate decision-making and problem-solving through their own individual perspective augmented by evidenced-based driven data," Gallogly said. "Our TEAL classroom is spectacular and will be a great asset in helping us produce critical thinkers and problem solvers."
A new cohort of nursing students will begin in spring every year on the Gainesville Campus, with dedicated faculty on campus at all times and a staff position to help with student questions. The first BSN class will graduate in fall 2017.
Nina Arenas-Montoya, lecturer of nursing, is one of those faculty members getting the students ready for their prospective careers. She is also a graduate of UNG, having earned her Master of Science in nursing education in May 2015.
To further support experiential learning, the Gainesville Campus also gained a simulation lab sporting equipment and settings nearly identical to the inner workings of a hospital. Soon, there will also be mannequins in the lab that can simulate a wide range of injuries and illnesses for students to practice their skills on.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents will soon initiate a study to assess predictions and future need for nurses in Georgia, which Gallogly said may guide them in planning for future growth.
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SOURCE University of North Georgia
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