We value accountability, caring, excellence, scholarship (ACES).  

To provide educational opportunities designed to produce a baccalaureate graduate nurse who demonstrates professional, ethical and accountable behaviors, interpersonal communication, comprehensive assessment, clinical decision-making and collaboration skills, teaching and learning capabilities, and incorporates evidence-based practice and leadership in diverse and complex health care settings.

Education is essential to the intellectual, physical, economic, social, emotional, cultural, and environmental well-being of individuals and society and should be geographically and physically accessible and affordable. In support of this philosophy, the Atrium Health Floyd Department of Nursing maintains a teaching/learning environment which promotes inclusiveness and provides educational opportunities, programs, and services of excellence in response to the needs of communities we serve.  The RN-BSN online program was started in the fall of 2013 to enable ASN and diploma graduates with an RN license in the state of Georgia to obtain a BSN in an accessible, affordable and valuable environment. The RN-BSN faculty is dedicated to preparing BSN graduates to practice as competent, caring professionals with effective communication and collaboration skills. This commitment is congruent with the The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021).  This philosophy is congruent with the philosophy of Georgia Highlands College.

1. Integrate knowledge from nursing science and apply principles of leadership to lead delivery of safe nursing care.
2. Synthesize reliable evidence from multiple sources to guide the planning of a practice change project.
3. Evaluate the impact of socioeconomic factors on patient care outcomes and nursing practice.
4. Utilize effective collaboration within an inter-disciplinary team to lead evidence-based nursing practice.
5. Develop health promotion and disease prevention strategies to improve health outcomes for individuals, groups, and/or communities.

Effective as of 8/5/2024

* GHC allows flexibility for working nurses to complete the BSN degree at a pace that promotes success.