South College is launching the master’s program in nursing at its Atlanta campus to help address the need for advanced nurses amid a nursing shortage that Georgia public health officials say has reached “crisis level.” Enrollment is open for qualified students to join the first class, which starts Sept. 30, 2020.
The Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP) is designed as a hybrid program, with both online and on-ground instruction and can be completed in as few as 18 months for full-time students.
“This hybrid approach provides students with the best of both worlds,” said Josh Huffaker, president of South College Atlanta. “Students can have the flexibility to work while attending online classes and also gain all of the benefits of our campus with in-person access to faculty, places to research and study, and hands-on instruction. This MSN-FNP program will serve the needs of our students and community.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job outlook nationwide for family nurse practitioners will grow much faster than average at 26 percent between 2018-2028. The Georgia Department of Public Health indicates that “the nursing shortage has reached a crisis level in Georgia’s public health,” a situation created in part by retirement of older nurses without a pipeline of new ones in place.
“Our pre-licensure nursing programs have generated great interest, so it is timely to build the ladder of nursing programs to offer the MSN-FNP option,” Huffaker said. “We continue to work to serve the urgent need for quality nurses in our community and our state.”
The program is the first South College School of Nursing master’s degree program offered at the Atlanta campus and the second master’s degree offered at the campus. The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The faculty at South College will provide instruction in core MSN nursing courses to expand the students’ knowledge in nursing and to assume the role of FNP, which are advanced practice nurses who provide family-centered preventive care and diagnose and treat various health conditions.
To inquire about the MSN-FNP program in Atlanta, call 470-322-1200. For more information about South College, visit https://www.south.edu.
About South College
South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. Questions about the accreditation of South College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).