6CC
SUNDAY, FEB. 22, 2015
HEALTH & FITNESS
PROGRESS
Kennesaw State University nursing student Ashley Sandoval knows where her future in the school’s Wellstar College of Health and Human Services is taking her and that she is getting a degree that will prepare her for the workforce when she graduates. / Staff-Kelly J. Huff
KSU’s WellStar school of nursing is one of the fastest growing in the state, graduating classes of health care’s
VITAL IDOLS BY BRITTINI RAY
bray@mdjonline.com
KENNESAW — After earning a spot on U.S. News & World Report’s ranking as one of the nation’s best nursing programs, Kennesaw State University’s WellStar School of Nursing has seen the number of applicants to the program grow sixfold per semester. The school receives between 600 and 800 applications per semester for its 110 open seats in the program, according to Tommie Nelms, Director of WellStar Health System’s School of Nursing. “We always have lots of interest in the (Bachelor of Science in) nursing program,” she said. “We have more applicants than we can take because we are limited by faculty and clinical placements. We have a phenomenal interest in application and we expect that to continue to grow year after year.” The school averages 200 nursing graduate each year, with starting salaries ranging between $55,000 and $65,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average salary of a registered nurse as $65,470, and states the number of nursing jobs is expected to grow by 19 percent in the next five years. Senior Ashton Gokey, an undergraduate Kennesaw resident, echoed Nelms’ sentiments of the program’s competitiveness, citing the five-month buildup of anticipation for acceptance notifications. “It’s incredibly competitive here,” she said. “This is my first semester in the program. I applied twice to the program, and they don’t let you know for five months whether you’ve been accepted or not. It’s really hard to get into the program. My favorite part of the program are the labs. They’re very hands-on and realistic. It really prepares you for working in a hospital.”
The school is the largest nursing program in north Georgia and offers four different program types, including an accelerated and traditional Bachelors of Science in Nursing program, a Master of Science in Nursing, a Doctorate in Nursing and a Foreign Born Physician Program, which allows graduates from international medical schools to earn their degrees. Undergraduate students study general clinical sciences and choose a specialization at the graduate level. The most popular areas of specialization are nurse practitioner and family nurse practitioner, Nelms said. Senior Ashley Sandoval, an Acworth resident, said the program eased her worries about job preparation and finding employment. “During my time in the nursing program, I have come to realize that most students have jobs lined up before graduation and are satisfied with their job offers,” she said. “The nursing program tries to provide a lot of room for growth and to get involved in the health care facilities outside of Kennesaw. For instance, there is the student nurse (externship) through Kennestone, and multiple technician jobs at other facilities such as Northside, Emory and Grady. I work for WellStar Kennestone through the student nurse extern program, and it’s been amazing.” Graduates of the program have a high rate of securing employment before or shortly after graduation, Nelms said. “The job outlook here is phenomenal,” she said. “It’s rare that we have a graduate that does not have a job secured by the time of graduation. If it does happen, they usually secure jobs shortly after they graduate. There are jobs out there for our students that want one.”
SCHOOL OF NURSING W E L L S T A R
AT A GLANCE Available seats per semester: 110-120 Number of applicants per semester: 600-800 Number of graduates: 200 per year Starting salary: $55,000-$65,000
Kennesaw State University Nursing student Ashley Sandoval outside the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, one of the fastest growing nursing schools in the nation. / Staff-Kelly J. Huff