COVID-19 Vaccine

Every college in the University System of Georgia recognizes COVID-19 vaccines offer safe, effective protection and urges all students, faculty, staff, and visitors to get vaccinated. The University System of Georgia and GHC do not require the COVID-19 vaccine. However, successful completion of the clinical component of the nursing curriculum is required in order to progress and graduate from the program. To participate in clinical experience activities, GHC faculty and students are required to follow credentialing specifications set by clinical partners. At this time, none of GHC’s clinical partners no longer require the COVID-19 vaccine as a part of their credentialing requirements.

Clinical Placement & Credentialing Requirements

GHC wants you to be successful in our nursing program and in your future nursing career. In order to do this, attending clinicals for hands-on learning opportunities and maintaining credentialing requirements are very important.

As a nursing student, you will attend clinicals at a variety of clinical sites. Nursing students are required to meet credentialing requirements for our clinical partners. Lack of credentialing will prevent students from attending clinicals, which are required for the nursing courses each semester.

Credentialing Requirements Exemption

Some clinical partners have processes for exemptions. This information is provided to students only after acceptance to the nursing program. Approval for an accommodation or exemption is made by the medical facility, not GHC. Once accepted in the nursing program, students must follow processes set by the clinical facility regarding desired waivers. USG/GHC do not require the COVID vaccine, and any accommodations or exemptions will be made by the medical facility, not GHC.

Please do not contact clinical partners for information about Covid vaccine policies and waivers. GHC is one of many schools which are granted the privilege of clinical education in local hospitals. We are guests of our clinical partners and work with them to make the credentialing process as smooth and simple as possible.

GHC’s Campus Guidelines and Information on the COVID-19 Vaccine

To learn more about GHC’s campus guidelines, please visit chargehead.highlands.edu. Questions about medical advice should be asked of your healthcare provider so you can make a decision that is right for you. Please visit the CDC’s website for additional information about the COVID-19 vaccine.

How to contact the ASN program?

For questions, please reach out to the Admissions Specialist Nathen Barriga at nbarriga@highlands.edu or the Program Coordinator Chance Hooper at chooper@highlands.edu.

Nathen Barriga office hours: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm

Chance Hooper office hours: Monday – Friday 8am-5pm

What campuses are the nursing classes taught on? What about clinical sites?

The nursing program is currently based at the James D. Maddox Heritage Hall site located at 415 East 3^rd Avenue, Rome, GA 30161.

Nursing lectures are held in Lakeview Auditorium on the Floyd Campus at 3175 Cedartown Highway, Rome, GA 30161 with skills check offs and simulation labs at the Heritage Hall site at 415 East 3^rd Avenue, Rome, GA 30161.

Please visit the new Virtual Tours website to take an online tour of each Georgia Highlands campus.

Our main clinical partner is Atrium Health Floyd with a minor clinical presence in Polk, Bartow, Paulding, and Cobb counties.

What campuses are nursing prerequisites available on?

Georgia Highlands College offers general education courses online and on its four campuses:

Floyd Campus 3175 Cedartown Highway, Rome, GA 30161

Cartersville Campus 5441 Highway 20, NE, Cartersville, GA 30121

Marietta Campus 1090 Northchase Parkway, Suite 150, Marietta, GA 30060

Paulding Campus 25 Courthouse Square, Dallas, GA 30132

How can I see what classes are taught on what campuses or online?

To see what classes are available online or on the different campuses, students will want to use the public Course Offerings link to search: https://www.highlands.edu/ghcbanner/course-offerings

ACEMAPP

ACEMAPP is the clinical credentialing system used by our partners for students to be cleared for clinical rotations in their facilities. Students upload their immunizations and complete immunization exemptions and declinations. Failure to credential by the given deadline will result in the student being removed from their clinical rotations and grade points will be deducted.

What are the class and clinical schedules like?

Below are examples of the fall 2024 and spring 2025 class and clinical schedules:

First Year Fall 2024 Class Schedule

First Year Fall 2024 Clinical Schedule

First Year Spring 2025 Class Schedule

First Year Spring 2025 Clinical Schedule

Second Year Fall 2024 Class Schedule

Second Year Fall 2024 Clinical Schedule

Second Year Spring 2025 Class Schedule

Second Year Spring 2025 Clinical Schedule

Bridge Spring 2025 Class Schedule

Bridge Spring 2025 Clinical Schedule

*After the first semester, the Bridge cohort will follow the second-year fall and spring schedules above.

What are the important deadlines for the nursing program?

1. April 1^st for High School students/graduates that start each summer semester.
   1. Application available January 1^st – April 1^st
   2. Notification letters are emailed by mid-May.
2. April 1^st for the Traditional program that starts each fall semester.
   1. Application available January 1^st – April 1^st
      1. GHC students enrolled in spring prerequisite classes will have their grades counted in their admission score and GPA.
      2. Transfer students - spring courses at other colleges do not count in the admission score or GPA. All prerequisites should be completed the fall semester before applying to the program OR must be in progress here at GHC to count.
   2. Notification letters are emailed by the last week of May.
3. August 15^th for the LPN/Paramedic bridge program that starts each spring semester.
   1. Application available May 1^st - August 15^st
      1. GHC summer semester classes are guaranteed to count in the admission score and GPA.
      2. Transfer students - summer courses will only count in the admission score and GPA if they are transferred in time for the admissions committee to view in the system AFTER they've been evaluated by the Registrar's office. The risk of these classes not being available in the system when committee members review applications can lead to admission scores and decisions being determined without missing prerequisites. Once the committee has met and determined admission scores, further review is not possible.
   2. Notification letters are emailed by mid to late September.

How many students are accepted into the program each year?

The Traditional ASN program admits up to 100 - 120 students each year in the fall semester. The LPN/Paramedic Bridge Program admits 50 students each year in the spring semester.

How are applicants notified of acceptance or denial to the nursing program?

For both programs the notification letter will be sent to the email provided on your nursing application. If an applicant uses a personal email on the nursing application and also has a GHC student email available, they will receive the letter at both emails.

Is there a wait list for the nursing program?

There is no official wait list for the program. Eligible applicants are ranked by admission score from highest to lowest and the nursing admissions committee determines the total that can be accepted for the cohort based on GBON rules. If anyone who is offered a spot in the program chooses to decline their spot or fails to respond to their notification letter by the deadline date provided, we will move on to the next student on the list. This process continues until the cohort is filled.

How does the bridge program work?

Bridge students are accepted once per year, starting every January with the spring semester. The first semester is taught online with only 6-8 campus visits required for campus lab, simulation lab, and skills check offs. Students will also attend two 12-hour clinical rotations scheduled to start after NURS 1300 has been passed.

Students have the summer off, or must complete any missing prerequisites, before returning for the fall semester. In the fall semester the bridge students merge with the traditional pathway students who started the fall semester before them and become one large cohort. During this fall semester and the second spring semester students can expect to be on campus 2-3 days per week and will begin clinicals within the first few weeks of the semester. Clinicals are primarily spread throughout the semester.

How old can my biology classes be for eligibility?

Anatomy & Physiology I & II, and Microbiology no longer expire for working LPN’s and Paramedics. If an applicant has retaken their science classes within the last six years those grades will be used instead of the older class grades.

What is the work verification letter/graduation proof?

LPN/Paramedic for longer than two years: A work verification letter is required for those who have been working as an LPN or Paramedic for longer than two years. Use the LPN-Paramedic-Hours-Template to successfully submit your letter. The letter is an eligibility requirement and must be attached to the nursing application or emailed to the Admissions Specialist by no later than 11:59pm August 15^th.

1. The letter must be on official letterhead from their supervisor or HR office.
2. Please fill in the information in the [brackets] on the letter template.
3. Here is a copy of the letter: LPN/Paramedic Work Verification Letter Template

Recent LPN/Paramedic graduates: Applicants who have graduated from an LPN/Paramedic program within the last two years can attach a pdf copy of their unofficial transcript. The unofficial transcript must show the applicants name and the date of graduation with either an LPN or Paramedic diploma. An official transcript must be submitted to the GHC Admissions office.

I’m currently in an LPN/Paramedic program and will not finish until after the August 15^th deadline, am I still eligible?

Applicants are not eligible for the program unless they have their LPN or Paramedic license submitted by the August 15^th deadline.

The ASN program has nine prerequisites, all tracks require the same general education classes listed below:

1. *Anatomy & Physiology I
2. *Anatomy & Physiology II
3. *Microbiology
4. *MATH 1001 or higher (STAT 1401 included)
5. ENGL 1101 or 1102
6. COMM 1100 or 1110
7. HIST 2111 or 2112
8. POLS 1101
9. Humanities elective

The Humanities elective consists of many classes: Humanities, Philosophy, Foreign Language, Music/Art/Theater Appreciation, English Literature, Film studies, etc.

*A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and Math must be completed with a C or better or in progress at GHC in the semester of application in order to be eligible. Any applicant missing these classes will not be accepted to the program.

• Traditional ASN applicants must be finished with these classes, or have them in progress here at GHC, by the spring semester they intend to apply.
• LPN/Paramedic Bridge applicants must be finished with these classes by the end of the summer semester when applying. Fall semester classes will not count in the admission score.

How much is tuition for the associate degree nursing program?

Nursing courses cost the same per credit hour as general education courses. The traditional program is 36 credit hours total across four semesters. The LPN/Paramedic Bridge program is 26 credit hours total across three semesters.

For up-to-date tuition and fee information please visit: https://www.highlands.edu/tuition-and-fees/

What are the approximate costs of the program?

The following items are covered for every student by our partner Atrium Health Floyd:

1. Nursing Resource & e-Book Bundle: Approximately $800 per semester
2. Nursing Uniform: Approximately $325, one set of scrubs, shoes, and a jacket with GHC nursing patches included
   1. Students cover the cost of any additional uniforms and nursing patches

The following items are covered by the nursing department:

1. Clinical supplies: Approximately $110 per semester in the first two semesters
2. ACEMAPP: $50 annually to get through the program

Students cover the following costs:

1. Tuition and fees: unless covered by financial aid
   1. Liability insurance included in student fees
2. Health insurance
   1. Students with personal health insurance must waive the school health insurance each semester, otherwise they face paying the $1,120 per semester cost
   2. Students using the school health insurance should not complete the insurance waiver
3. Background Check & Drug Screen: $99.95 annually

Information Sessions

Every student planning to apply for the nursing program must attend a nursing information session in order to be eligible. The session is designed to provide information about program requirements and prepare students for how the program works. Once the session ends attendees will receive their proof of attendance to upload with their nursing application.

Nursing information sessions are from 5:30pm-6:0pm in room W-333 in the Walraven building on the Floyd campus at 3175 Cedartown Highway Rome, Georgia 30161.

Keys to Success Workshop

Keys to Success is a MANDATORY orientation session for students accepted into the nursing program. Students who fail to attend Keys to Success will be dismissed and the next eligible student from the waitlist will be added. During the session, the faculty will go through the nursing student handbook, policies, dress code, clinical supplies, credentialing requirements, as well as academic and professional standards. Students will also learn how to access their courses in D2L and all learning resources required for the program.

Students who will not be able to attend must have a valid excuse with supporting documentation.

Traditional & High School Program: Held in June each year.

LPN/Paramedic Bridge Program: Held in November each year.

*Students are only allowed two attempts at the Traditional Nursing pathway program. Bridge students who fail out of the first semester must readmit into the Traditional pathway.

The nursing classes are locked in order to prevent any student from registering for them. The Admissions Specialist will register all students for the first semester. For the rest of the program nursing students should be able to register themselves at the end of every semester after grades are updated. Should a student of the program be unable to register themselves, they must reach out to the Admissions Specialist for assistance.

Course Withdrawals

Information about dropping classes or regular withdrawal is available on the Registrar's FAQ: https://sites.highlands.edu/registrar/registrars-faqs/

What is the Readmission Process?

Students who readmit to the nursing program with a cumulative college GPA less than 2.0 must be aware that they cannot graduate from the college until their GPA is raised to at least 2.0.

The student will need to write a readmission letter explaining what issues they faced while in the program that led to them not being successful, and the steps they’ve taken to overcome those issues. The letter is to show what you do in the weeks and months after leaving the program. Please email the letter to our Admissions Specialist, Nathen Barriga, at nbarriga@highlands.edu by the deadline dates below.

Readmission Letter Deadlines:

Fall Semester – April 1^st

Spring semester August 15^th

Declining Acceptance to the Program

Should a student choose to decline their spot in the nursing program:

• If the student declines after receiving their notification letter, they are able to change their mind as long as the spot has not been filled by a student from the waitlist.
• Acceptance to the program cannot be deferred. Should an applicant choose to defer their acceptance they must go through the admissions process again and meet the eligibility requirements
  • Applicants do not need to attend a second Nursing Information Session
• Students will need to make sure their CNA(Optional), LPN, or Paramedic license does not expire before the deadline.
  • These licenses can expire after the application deadline, but they must be active through the deadline date.
• If the students TEAS score report is more than two years old from the application deadline, the exam must be retaken.

*A&P I, A&P II, Microbiology, and Math must be completed, or in progress at GHC during the spring semester a student plans to apply for the program.

Transfer Credits

The Atrium Health Floyd Georgia Highlands College Department of Nursing does not review transcripts, that is handled entirely by the Admissions and Registrar’s offices. If a potential student would like to see how their previous college credits might transfer into the college, please see the Registrar’s Transfer Equivalency System.

For a copy of the Traditional ASN Advising Pathway or LPN/Paramedic Bridge Program Advising Pathway, please visit the link below and look under Associate and then Career Programs: https://sites.highlands.edu/advising/program-checklists/

Why do I need the US & Georgia Constitution and US & Georgia History requirements to graduate?

All students within the University System of Georgia are required to complete a US & GA Constitution and US & GA History requirement for graduation. These are typically satisfied by taking POLS 1101 and HIST 2111 or 2112 at a college within the state of Georgia. Transfer students only satisfy the US Constitution & US History requirement and must take a departmental exam in order to satisfy the GA Constitution & GA History requirements for graduation.

There is an FAQ available on the School of Social Sciences and Education website: https://sites.highlands.edu/social-sciences-and-education/

Any questions about this requirement be directed to the Registrar’s office or the School of Social Sciences and Education via the link above.

Please see Georgia law 20-3-68.

How can I contact the Registrar’s office about my transfer evaluation or a re-evaluation?

Students are encouraged to use the GHC 411 Ticketing system to reach out with questions about their status of their transfer evaluation, or to request a re-evaluation of courses: GHC 411 Ticket

Acceptance Notification

Students will receive an acceptance notification letter via the email provided on their nursing application. If an applicant uses their personal email on the nursing application, they will receive their notification letter twice, once in their personal email and the second in their GHC student email. It is the student’s responsibility to watch for these emails. There is a response deadline in the acceptance letter, responses after the deadline will not be accepted and we will move down the list of eligible applicants until the cohort is full.

Acceptance Packets & ACEMAPP

After a student accepts their spot in the program, the entire cohort will receive an email with important information and an attached pdf copy of the acceptance packet documents. All email communication going forward must be through your secure GHC student email.

Once the acceptance packets are sent to the students everyone in the cohort will be added to ACEMAPP, our clinical credentialing system. You will receive an invitation email with a registration link in your GHC student email. Use the registration link to setup your ACEMAPP profile and you will also be able to start uploading your immunization documentation required for clinical clearance.

Registering for Nursing Classes

The nursing classes (except NURS 1000 and NURS 1152) are locked in order to prevent any student from registering for them. The Admissions Specialist will register all students for the first semester. For the rest of the program nursing students should be able to register themselves at the end of every semester after grades are updated. Should a student of the program be unable to register themselves, they must reach out to the Admissions Specialist for assistance.