Nursing program expands to Blue Ridge Campus

The University of North Georgia (UNG) has expanded its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program to UNG's Blue Ridge Campus this fall. UNG also offers nursing bachelor's degrees in Cumming, Dahlonega and Gainesville.

With an initial cohort of 16 students in Blue Ridge, UNG is now preparing 635 undergraduate nursing students across those four campuses through its widely respected program. UNG graduates consistently have some of the top National Council Licensure Examination results in the state.

Taylor Whitehead, a junior from Blairsville, Georgia, spent his first two years at UNG taking his nursing prerequisite classes at UNG's Dahlonega Campus. He is grateful to be part of the first BSN cohort in Blue Ridge, which is a 20-minute drive from his home.

Whitehead is pursuing nursing thanks to positive experiences he had with healthcare professionals. His goal is to be an emergency room nurse before also serving as a travel nurse.

"I just like helping people," Whitehead said. "And I like high-energy environments."

Kaley Roush, a senior from Cumming, Georgia, plans to work in pediatric nursing. She has appreciated both the hands-on learning experiences and the small size of the initial cohort.

"I love how tight-knit our program is," Roush said. "I think it's good having such a small group. It's very easy to get direct help and hands-on experience through that."

Rose Adams, a junior from Buford, Georgia, plans to work as a women's health nurse. She has also benefited from the smaller class sizes.

"I feel like we've had a good chance to bond with the professors and get to know our peers," Adams said. "If we need help, we get more attention."

Silas Campbell, a junior from Blue Ridge, Georgia, wanted to be a physical therapist for a long time before his goals shifted during high school. He plans to be a flight nurse or a wound care nurse.

"My sister has special needs, and I have watched how nurses take good care of her," Campbell said. "I can't pay that back, but I can try to pay it forward."

The nursing faculty members in Blue Ridge are also grateful for the nursing program's new campus. Dr. Cynthia Wagner lives in Blue Ridge and Dr. Julia Ueltzen in Blairsville.

"It is life-changing for our students," said Wagner, an assistant professor and BSN coordinator at the Blue Ridge Campus. "I believe this has given some of the students an opportunity to achieve their goals that would not be possible without the program being on this campus near their homes."

Ueltzen, an assistant professor, echoed that sentiment.

"Having the program in Blue Ridge makes a higher level of nursing education feel realistic and attainable for students in communities like Union, Towns and Fannin counties," Ueltzen said. "Students can see that they do not necessarily have to leave their community to pursue a BSN — they can begin building their education, careers and futures right here in north Georgia."

As this first cohort is in the early steps of the BSN journey, the faculty members are already impressed with what they are seeing from the students.

"They celebrate each other's successes, recognize when someone is struggling and are learning early that nursing is not something we do alone," Ueltzen said.