Emory & Henry College launches new Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree
They will be working on pre-requisite classes to determine admittance into the program their sophomore year in 2022.
The College received approval from the Virginia Board of Nursing to move forward with the traditional Bachelor of Nursing program. The baccalaureate degree program is also pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam to become Registered Nurses.
“Our goal is to prepare nurses who provide high quality care, can demonstrate critical thinking skills, and can assist patients in navigating an increasingly complex healthcare system, with increased focus on health promotion,” says Dr. Lou Fincher, Vice President and Dean of School of Health Sciences at Emory & Henry College.
Dr. Laurie Anne Ferguson was recently named the Founding Dean of the School of Nursing. She brings extensive experience in the nursing profession in both education and clinical work. Most recently, Dr. Ferguson served as Dean of the College of Nursing and Health and Director of the School of Nursing at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“I look forward to working with Dr. Ferguson and members of the team that will develop the School of Nursing to serve our region’s nursing workforce needs,” says Dr. Fincher. “We strongly believe that the strong liberal arts education that Emory & Henry College is known for will provide a strong foundation for the new innovative and comprehensive BSN program. We expect our graduates to be caring leaders and change agents in the healthcare disciplines.”
Healthcare in Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee, and beyond are in need of nurses who are highly educated and have a passion to provide service within their own communities.
“We are proud to work with Emory & Henry as they help fulfill the need for healthcare workers within the Appalachian Highlands,” says Dr. Lisa Smithgall, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Ballad Health. “We have worked with Emory & Henry’s nursing leadership in the development of the School of Nursing, and we are happy to provide clinical placements at Ballad Health so that nursing students can gain critical, clinical education during their training.”
Dr. Smithgall added, “We look forward to hiring nurses, who are trained regionally and who want to care for patients in our community upon graduation. We fully believe that Emory & Henry will produce high-quality leaders and caring nurses who want to serve their community right here in the Appalachian Highlands.”
On Thursday, April 22, Emory & Henry will hold an online information session about the program at 4:30 p.m. The information session will include an overview of the new Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program, RN to BSN program, and other opportunities that the School of Nursing has to offer. Attendees will have an opportunity to interact with program faculty and ask questions about the program. Registration is now open.
Applications are now being accepted for the BSN program. Learn more about the School of Nursing.
School of Nursing BSN Announcement Press Conference
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Our goal is to prepare nurses who provide high quality care, can demonstrate critical thinking skills, and can assist patients in navigating an increasingly complex healthcare system, with increased focus on health promotion.
- Dr. Lou Fincher