Thanks to a new agreement signed with the Technical College System of Georgia, graduates earning an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from any technical college in Georgia will be able to seamlessly transfer credits into Brenau University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
The ASN-to-BSN pathway in the university’s Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing is designed for licensed registered nurses who want to build leadership skills, strengthen clinical judgment, and expand their impact across patients, communities and healthcare systems.
The goal of a new academic agreement is to support student success while addressing the state’s ongoing nursing shortage.
“Brenau has previously signed ASN-to-BSN agreements with individual technical colleges in our region, but we are excited that this systemwide agreement with the TCSG opens up a workforce opportunity for students and healthcare providers across the state who are experiencing critical shortages in nursing staff,” Brenau President David L. Barnett said. “The agreement is yet another way that Brenau is working to support students and the communities in which we live, work and learn.”
Georgia is projected to have the second-largest nursing shortage in the nation over the next decade, with a forecast 21% deficit in the RN workforce, according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. A rapidly aging population is driving increased demand for healthcare professionals; the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the number of Americans aged 65 and older will exceed 82 million in 2050, accounting for nearly a quarter of the population.
“Creating seamless pathways for our graduates to continue their education is an important part of building a skilled workforce for Georgia,” TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier said. “This partnership with Brenau University gives nursing graduates across our colleges a clear path to advance their education, grow their leadership skills, and take the next step in their careers. Most importantly, it helps strengthen Georgia’s nursing pipeline at a time when communities and healthcare providers across our state need these highly skilled professionals.”
The agreement includes flexible options common to Brenau programs that make pursuing a degree more approachable for working professionals. The program offers both full-time and part-time options, with courses typically offered online except for required clinical experiences. This agreement allows credit for demonstrated, experiential professional competencies, reducing the time required to complete the degree.
While a bachelor’s degree in nursing is not required to earn RN licensure, the healthcare industry increasingly is seeking RNs with a BSN to fill leadership roles. Additionally, a 2021 study published in Nursing Outlook found that when hospitals hire more nurses with BSNs, fewer patients die after surgery.
“As more nurses retire from the profession, hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices and other providers seek nurses who have the additional expertise and leadership ability provided through a bachelor’s degree program,” James C. Eck, Ph.D., Brenau’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. “I would like to commend Laura Hart, Ed.D., MSN, RN, who is our undergraduate chair of nursing at Brenau. She worked very hard on the details to ensure that this program provides the best possible outcomes for students who will benefit from this partnership and their thousands of future patients.”
