Nurses who received the inaugural RN to BSN Professional Advancement Scholarship took part in an appreciation breakfast to thank all those who were involved with the scholarship and the new RN to BSN nursing degree. 

TIFTON, Ga. – All 16 students enrolled in the brand new bachelor’s degree in nursing program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are receiving scholarships this fall semester thanks to the RN to BSN Professional Advancement Scholarship from the ABAC Foundation.

“Nurses who received the scholarships are just getting started in their careers,” Dr. Tami Dennis, professor of nursing, said.  “They are paying back loans and working while earning this degree.  We wanted to make returning to school as easy as possible for them.  These scholarships are going to take off a big burden.”

Dennis said that ABAC President David Bridges and the faculty of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences requested financial support for the scholarships, and the ABAC Foundation made the scholarships possible.  Bridges announced on March 10 that ABAC would be adding the bachelor’s degree in nursing beginning with the summer term. The associate degree program in nursing began at ABAC in 1966.

“This is like a dream come true for many of our nursing graduates in the area,” Bridges said at the time.  “I think it’s great that we are able to make this announcement during the 50th anniversary of our first nursing students at ABAC.”

Almost all the students in the new bachelor’s degree program received their associate degree in nursing from ABAC and then passed the certification examination to become Registered Nurses.

“I am very proud to say that all but one of the inaugural class had previously received their associate nursing degrees from ABAC,” Dennis said.  “We see this as a vote of confidence because there are many other options for students.  We believe we have earned the trust of students, and we intend on continuing to be the destination for nursing education in South Georgia.”

Dennis said the RN to BSN Completion Program builds on a practicing nurse’s expertise.  Rather than re-teaching basic nursing classes, the program takes into account each student’s unique interest area and future career plans.  She said the program is predominately on-line and consists of courses and experiences in the community that broaden the nurse’s leadership potential.

“The overriding goal is to graduate an individual who is prepared for expert clinical practice or leadership roles in the community,” Dennis said.  “Many will choose to attend graduate school after finishing this degree.”

New students are accepted into the program every semester.  The next scholarship deadline for the RN to BSN Professional Advancement Scholarship is the summer of 2017.

For more information on the ABAC bachelor’s degree in nursing program or to schedule an advising appointment, interested persons can contact the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at (229) 391-5020.