About Nursing

About the Nursing Department

Setting the Standard for Clinical Success With a consistent track record of near-perfect NCLEX pass rates and a 100% job placement rate, our Nursing department is a regional powerhouse in nursing education. Our curriculum is designed to meet the evolving demands of the 21st-century healthcare system, emphasizing evidence-based practice and leadership.

By blending the personal feel of a student-centered department with the resources of a premier public university, we empower our students to transition seamlessly from the classroom to the front lines of patient care.

Message from the Department Head

Dear Future Nursing Student,

Thank you for considering the University of North Georgia’s Department of Nursing for your educational journey. At UNG, we offer comprehensive nursing programs at every level: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). We are committed to lifelong learning and look forward to supporting you throughout your career in nursing.

Our department is proud of its outstanding outcomes and commitment to excellence. In 2024, UNG nursing students achieved a 96.74% first-time NCLEX pass rate and a 100% pass rate on the Family Nurse Practitioner national certification exam. Additionally, our Accelerated BSN track was ranked #1 in Georgia and #5 nationally by RegisteredNursing.org. We are equally proud of our 87.56% on-time undergraduate completion rate, reflecting our dedication to student success.

While these accomplishments highlight our commitment to excellence, the true strength of our program lies in our exceptional students, faculty, and staff. At UNG, students come first always — and that dedication shines through in everything we do.

We look forward to welcoming you to the UNG nursing community and partnering with you as you discover what comes next on your educational journey.

Warm regards,

Dr. Heather Harris
Department Chair of Nursing
University of North Georgia

Mission Statement

The University of North Georgia Department of Nursing provides a culture of excellence in professional practice, leadership, scholarship, and global engagement through innovative academic programs provided in a nurturing, student centered learning environment.

Vision Statement

The University of North Georgia Department of Nursing will be known as an inclusive center of academic excellence dedicated to preparing nurse leaders, clinicians, and scholars for diverse health care settings within a global society.

Core Values

The University of North Georgia Department of Nursing bases its educational programs upon certain core values and expects faculty, staff, and students to display those values. The core values are: Excellence, Student Focus, Integrity, Engagement, Service, Caring

Notification of Nursing Program Expansion

Expanding the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Traditional Track to the Blue Ridge campus

The University of North Georgia plans to expand its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program Traditional Track to the Blue Ridge campus with a cohort of 20 students starting nursing courses in Fall 2026.

Justification for expansion

The American Association of Colleges of Nurses (ACEN) (2024) recommends increasing the number of registered nurses with bachelor’s degrees to improve healthcare outcomes through increased clinical judgment, the ability to practice in diverse settings, and increased leadership competencies. The U. S. Census Bureau (2024) indicates the counties of North Georgia saw dramatic growth in 2023. This population upsurge increases the need for competent nurses with the ability to lead healthcare teams. This program expansion aligns with the University of North Georgia’s strategic plan to supercharge workforce development in the healthcare sector, allowing students to complete their nursing degree on the Blue Ridge campus. This will better support the future nursing workforce in the Fannin County area and surrounding counties, positively impacting student success and workforce development.

Curriculum and Resources

The Blue Ridge BSN program will follow the current traditional program track curriculum and end of program student learning outcomes. Blue Ridge campus nursing faculty will be held to the same standards as faculty throughout the nursing department, with a minimum of a master’s degree in nursing required to teach baccalaureate courses. By 2031, the program will expand to an entering cohort size of 60, with 2 cohorts attending nursing courses simultaneously, for a total of 120 nursing students on the Blue Ridge campus each year. It is estimated that a total of 9 10-month faculty, 9 part-time clinical faculty, 1 simulation coordinator, 1 simulation technician, and 1 administrative staff will be required to support this growth. A new simulation center was completely outfitted on this campus as of Fall 2025.

Implementation plan

The program has been approved by the governing institution, and the accrediting body, ACEN, has been notified. Approval for expansion is currently from the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Contact information

For questions regarding this program expansion, please contact Dr. Heather Harris, Department Head of Nursing, at heather.harris@ung.edu or 706-429-5452.

Sincerely,
Heather Harris, DNP, APRN, NP-C