It’s well documented that the shortage of skilled nursing professionals is a pressing concern. In the metro area, nurses’ training is undertaken at several schools, and after looking at more than 50 programs around the state, evaluators at registerednursing.org announced that Chattahoochee Technical College stands out in Georgia for getting its students into the workforce.
“There is always a demand for nurses, and there never seems to be enough supply to meet the workforce’s requirements,” said Claudia Grooms, Chattahoochee’s dean of nursing. “During COVID, fewer nurses were graduating because of the limitations on training, but it’s been booming since then.”
Last year, Chattahoochee had 251 students on track to earn associate degrees in nursing or practical nursing, or certification as nurse’s aides. This year, it has 356 students in the year-round programs that can be completed in four or six semesters, which means graduates can hit the job market quickly.
“As of this summer in greater Atlanta, there were between 5,000 and 6,000 jobs available, said Grooms. “We’re required to track our job placement, and we know we have a 100% rate.”
But it’s not easy, Grooms points out. The same evaluation study put Chattahoochee on top for its rigorous academic standards that include hands-on classroom and lab activities and hours of clinical experience. Students get that on-the-job training through partnerships with area hospitals such as Wellstar, Northside, Children’s Healthcare and Piedmont.
“They have opened their doors to our students and are willing to ensure we have those important clinical placements,” said Grooms. “Many times, students are with our own faculty who serve as instructors, while others may work directly with the partners. They get the experience of what it’s like to work a 12-hour shift, and it’s expected that by time they graduate they can perform well in any unit they’re assigned to, be it surgical, ICU, OR, pediatrics or mental health.”
The program has also been successful in attracting nontraditional students, from dual-enrolled high schoolers to those who have been out of school for a time before coming back to the classroom.
“The majority of students have gone to a four-year college and decided it was not what they wanted to do,” said Grooms. “Others have had a change in their life circumstances or want a career change, and they decided to go into a field where they can be immediately employed. A number of students in our new cohort said, ‘I finally got my kids through college, and it’s my turn now.’ They’re at a point where they can still work 20 years or so and have a productive career.”
Some graduates opt to continue their education to earn bachelor’s degrees, said Grooms.
“They realize that this is a career where they’ll be able to get a job, and that job will offer a very attractive salary and benefits,” she said.
Information about nursing programs at Chattahoochee is online at chattahoocheetech.edu.
MAKING THE GRADE
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