Special to the Herald

 

SAVANNAH – The Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) granted developmental approval for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at Savannah Technical College. Developmental approval grants the college permission to begin the development of an ASN program. Pending initial approval by GBON and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the first cohort of 24 students will begin in January 2025.

Savannah Technical College plans to host this program at its Effingham Campus in a new Nursing/Science lab addition, projected to be complete prior to fall semester 2024. The proposed program will have a competitive selection process, which will include requirements of specific core courses, entrance exam and other criteria. Priority selection will be given to in-state students as well as those with a Georgia military affiliation.

Graduates of the Associate of Science in Nursing program are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The Savannah metro area had a skills gap of 3,173 for registered nurses in 2023. If granted final approval by the GBON, the first nursing cohort should begin classes in Spring 2025. 

The Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program, once approved at Savannah Technical College, will prepare graduates to provide quality patient care through academic and occupational knowledge attained throughout their program of study.

The ASN program’s development is partially funded by the college’s Title III Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) grant, a five-year US Department of Education grant initially awarded in 2021. The college seeks to address both the shortage of registered nurses in the local workforce and the low participation of minority students in higher-level health science programs with funding from the PBI formula grant.

 

Nylander selected as program director

Savannah Technical College has selected Vickie Nylander, MSN, RN-BC, PCCN, as its Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program Director. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the curriculum for the ASN based on guidelines obtained from the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON).

Nylander has a Master of Science in Nursing Education from American Sentinel University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Rockingham Community College. She comes to us with more than 14 years of experience as a practicing registered nurse and nurse educator.

She is a member of the American Nurses Association, Georgia Nurses Association, American Association of Critical-care Nurses, and Rho Psi Chapter of Sigma Nursing. Her certifications include: American Nurses Credentialing Center – Medical Surgical Certified, Georgia RN Licensure, California RN Licensure, and Progressive Care Certified Nurse from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.