Gadsden State Cherokee to offer evening classes in Nursing
It can be challenging to juggle full-time employment with taking college courses, but it just got easier for those wishing to pursue an associate’s degree in nursing.
Dr. Deborah Curry, dean of Health Sciences, announced that in the fall semester, Gadsden State Cherokee will begin offering evening nursing courses three to four days a week including weekend clinical experiences.
“The evening program is designed for people who work during the day and can’t stop working to pursue a degree,” she said. “This fall, they can easily plan their normal work schedule around classes and clinicals.”
Gadsden State Cherokee’s evening program will accept up to 32 students.
“We hope to grow this program and be able to accept more students in the future,” Curry said.
Classes will take place at Gadsden State Cherokee. Fundamental clinicals will likely occur at the Cherokee Rehabilitation Facility. Clinicals in obstetrics and surgery will typically be in Gadsden or Anniston.
“Our students go where there are opportunities to learn,” Curry said.
The program is six semesters for students to earn an associate degree in registered nursing. Students also have the option to complete four semesters and take the licensed practical nursing exam through the Alabama Board of Nursing.
“After successfully completing four semesters and passing their boards, they can then continue towards their RN or they can go into the workforce and work as an LPN,” Curry said.
In the new evening nursing program at Gadsden State Cherokee, students will learn – for the first time – through a concept-based curriculum. It will be introduced at Gadsden State Cherokee but will not expand to the Wallace Drive Campus until fall semester 2017.
“Concept-based curriculum is a different way of teaching,” she said. “We’ll be teaching conceptually. Our students will be getting the same information but it’s being taught differently. All colleges are adapting to this curriculum.”
With the new curriculum and evening classes comes new acceptance requirements. Students must have an ACT score of 18 and a minimum 2.5 cumulative high school grade point average for students without prior college courses (GED will be used if applicable). Students will also get additional admission points for
completing English 101, Biology 201 and 202 and Math 100 or higher. An application for the evening nursing program can be found at https://www.gadsdenstate.edu/Nursing/Cherokee. Applications for the fall semester must be submitted by June 30.
“I think the evening nursing program will be a good thing for our students, for Gadsden State and for the healthcare community,” Curry said. “Those who have always wanted to become a nurse but could not do both work and attend class now have an opportunity they’ve not had before.”
[Dr. Deborah Curry speaks to community members at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce breakfast March 10th. Gadsden State Cherokee hosted the program on Partners in Education]