Amid reports of thousands of qualified students being turned away from U.S. nursing programs because of such factors as faculty shortages and enrollment limits, Judson College
in Marion has been making headway with starting its nursing program. The college was recently granted provisional approval by the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) in Montgomery for the new nursing education program.
“It’s been a long process, and we’re grateful to the ABN for their guidance and support,” said Kandace Shoults, director of nursing education at Judson.
This initial approval allows Judson to enroll students into the program, according to Shoults.
Judson has 42 current students enrolled in the pre-nursing program, and 32 students have been accepted in the associate degree nursing program that starts spring semester 2012.
“We have received [an] overwhelming response from potential students and faculty for our program,” Shoults said.
She said the associate degree in nursing requires 19 nursing and general education courses. Within the nursing program at Judson, an emphasis will be placed on rural health.
“We have partnerships for clinical education with neighboring hospitals and nursing homes,” Shoults said, adding that clinical agreements have been made with “excellent facilities.”
The college first considered a nursing program in the late ’70s and revisited the idea several times. “There’s a real shortage of nurses in the country, and the nursing program here fits like a glove,” former Judson trustee chair Charles Dunkin said.
“It’s a natural outgrowth of our science program, and it gives Judson another opportunity to serve the community.”
Judson President David Potts noted that the nursing program will offer a number of advantages over other schools’ programs.
“We’re a Christian college and the school has always been solid in science and in pre-professional programs in allied health professions,” he said.
Shoults said applications are currently being accepted for the fall semester 2012.
For more information, call the Judson office of admissions at 1-800-447-9472. (TAB, JC)
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