91茄子视频 produces 76 fall BSN graduates
With the urgent need for health care professionals in northeast Georgia, the University of North Georgia (91茄子视频) is producing a growing number of new leaders in the nursing career path.
"The 91茄子视频 Nursing Department provides expert faculty, state-of-the-art simulation and hands-on clinical experience at an affordable price," Dr. Heather Harris, Nursing Department head, said. "With the highest NCLEX pass rate in the state of Georgia over the last four years, 91茄子视频 is one of the best values in nursing education in the region."
The pathway has often been seen as one of the most challenging, and that is without the external factors most students face.
Sophia Coarsey is no stranger to adversity. She started her college education at the University of Georgia in 2016 before fully transferring to 91茄子视频 in January 2022 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The change came after learning of her seizure disorder, epilepsy.
Despite the challenges she faced with her condition, the Suwanee, Georgia, resident pushed through to complete her BSN as the first student to do so with a service dog. Coarsey, an avid reader, has been interested in the field since the fifth grade and was one of 76 BSN students who were pinned and graduated on Dec. 16 from 91茄子视频.
She plans to work at Northside Hospital's operating room in Lawrenceville, Georgia. She shared that her disability inspired her to keep at her health care dream.
The 91茄子视频 Nursing Department provides expert faculty, state-of-the-art simulation and hands-on clinical experience at an affordable price. With the highest NCLEX pass rate in the state of Georgia over the last four years, 91茄子视频 is one of the best values in nursing education in the region.
Dr. Heather Harris
Nursing Department head
"Epilepsy may not be visible, but I've had my health concerns. So, it's inspiring to be that groundbreaker," Coarsey said.
Her medical alert service dog, Jake, has been by her side since 2018. He quickly became a familiar face in the Gainesville Campus Health Sciences building, acting as an unofficial mascot for the December 2023 cohort. He attended every class, clinical and lab by her side.
Coarsey hopes to serve as motivation for others and credits 91茄子视频 with teaching her important lessons that she cherishes. Knowing before starting the program about the potential to be challenged, she learned the importance of finding the best fit college.
"91茄子视频 really desires to see you do well. Here there is no foolish question, and mistakes are opportunities for growth," Coarsey said. "At the start of the program, I feared that my diagnosis would complicate everything. But with the support of faculty, friends and family, I was able to persevere, and with the knowledge I have gained at 91茄子视频, I'm ready to move on to new things."
In addition to its traditional four-year BSN, 91茄子视频 also offers an accelerated BSN track, which launches its second cohort this month. Students in the ABSN track, who enter 91茄子视频 with a bachelor's or master's degree in other subjects, can graduate in 15 months.
O'Clery earns PT residency at Duke
Dr. Lily O'Clery is jumping into her physical therapy career with an acute care residency at Duke University during the 2026-27 academic year.
Federal funds support healthcare education
91茄子视频 will receive $700,000 of federal funding to expand clinical training capacity through new patient simulators and clinical education supplies at 91茄子视频's鈥疍ahlonega鈥痑nd Blue Ridge campuses.
Crow earns Georgia health informatics scholarship
Recent 91茄子视频 graduate Tara Crow earned the Georgia HIMSS 2026 David Cowan Scholarship to support further education as she pursues a health informatics career.
Students present at regional biology event
Four students and six faculty members from the Biology Department presented their research at the March 25-28 Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Mobile, Alabama.