RegisteredNursing.org has named Wiregrass Georgia Technical College’s Associate of Science in Nursing (RN) program the No. 1 program in the state of Georgia. This places Wiregrass’ program above all other colleges, universities, and technical colleges in Georgia. The ranking was based on the total number of students’ National Council Licensure Exam pass rates.

According to RegisteredNursing.org: “We have ranked the top 20 nursing schools in Georgia by analyzing current and historical NCLEX-RN ‘pass rates,’ meaning the percentage of graduates who passed the exam out of the total 53 RN programs currently offered in the state.”
Dr. Darlene Ridley, Wiregrass’ director of nursing, has taught since the program began in January 2014.

“We want our students to achieve success on the National Council Licensure Exam and to perform proficiently as a competent and safe professional registered nurse,” Ridley said.
Ridley’s point was only furthered by Dr. Tina K. Anderson, Wiregrass president, who explained that there is a large focus on the program.

“The ASN faculty truly care about the students and are continuously striving to improve the program,” Anderson said. “Students can be confident that when they successfully complete the program, they are prepared to pass the NCLEX-RN. Wiregrass is extremely proud of the faculty, graduates, and students. This ranking is further validation of the hard work they put in day after day.”

Anderson spoke about the students’ abilities to pass the exam.

“Every student who’s graduated from the RN program at Wiregrass, has passed their state board test to become a registered nurse in Georgia, and that is so powerful to us,” Anderson said. “As hospitals, as clinical sites, as our industry that counts on getting a workforce of RNs from us, as they support us, and as they guide us and serve on advisory committees, we want to make sure we’re producing a good product for them, and we are.”

Wiregrass’s RN program has a job placement rate of 100 percent with graduates working in many area hospitals, doctor offices, and nursing facilities.

Eli Metts graduated from Wiregrass in 2017 with his Associate of Science Degree in nursing. He is a registered nurse in the Invasive Cardiology Unit at the South Georgia Medical Center Dasher Memorial Heart Center.

“I am so glad I chose Wiregrass to pursue my nursing education,” Metts said. “Having been in the field for close to two years now, I know that I was more than prepared when I joined the ranks of registered nurses in my community. I learned all the practical skills at Wiregrass that serve me in my job role today. The hands-on experience I garnered as a student from Wiregrass made me feel confident and comfortable when I entered the workforce. To my mind, there is no better choice for prospective nurses when they are deciding on where to pursue their degree.”

Anderson made a statement on Wiregrass’s ranking.

“To be ranked No. 1 by an entity that’s a third party to us — you don’t get to influence their ranking,” Anderson said. “It’s based on who’s passing those boards. To be ranked No. 1 in the state of Georgia, that’s powerful for us, and we are very excited about what that means.”

The RN program is one of the competitive admissions programs at the college and welcomes new students into the program each spring semester. Students can apply for the program after completing required courses and the HESI exam. Visit wiregrass.edu to learn more about the programs Wiregrass offers. To view the rankings, visit registerednursing.org/state/georgia/#rankings.

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Written by: Cody Gatts
Photography courtesy of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College