As hospitals and clinics across rural Georgia face ongoing nursing shortages, two University of West Georgia faculty members are stepping up to meet the need. Backed by more than $3.6 million in federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration – the largest in UWG history – their new initiative will open doors for aspiring nurses by reducing barriers, expanding enrollment and strengthening the state’s healthcare workforce.
The grant specifically focuses on Carroll and Haralson counties by increasing the number of students receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at UWG and prelicensure nursing students receiving an associate degree in nursing (ADN) at West Georgia Technical College’s (WGTC) Murphy Campus in Waco.
The grant will fund scholarships and stipends for students in UWG’s BSN program, which enrolls students who are registered nurses with ADNs, the incorporation of students completing additional clinic experiences in long-term care settings.
“We anticipate this program growing tremendously,” said Dr. Kelly Dyar, associate professor in UWG’s Tanner Health School of Nursing (THSON) and project director. “By providing scholarship funding and a stipend to defray expenses, students can focus on learning instead of financial barriers.”
At WGTC, 50 percent of students are Pell-eligible, which means a student qualifies for a Federal Pell Grant, a form of financial aid for undergrads with exceptional financial need that does not need to be repaid. In THSON, 44 percent qualify.
Both Carroll and Haralson have citizens who demonstrate economic, educational and social disparities, such as poverty, housing difficulties and poor educational attainment. Students in the program, known as trainees, will receive scholarship funding, a one-time stipend for purchasing technology and a stipend to support living expenses. They will also have the support of writing associates, peer mentors and graduate students.
“By providing financial and academic support, students are more likely to complete the program,” explained Dr. Amy Yarbrough, THSON associate professor and project team lead. “Research shows there is a specific need to increase the number of nurses with bachelor’s degrees.”
Georgia has one of the highest nursing shortage rates in the country. The state needs approximately 24,800 nurses to alleviate the shortage, Dyar informed. In Carroll County, there are only 1,113 RNs per 100,000 residents; Haralson only has 925.
The recruitment and support of underrepresented groups is also a critical focus.
“When people seek healthcare, they want their team to include people who look like them and share similar backgrounds,” Dyar said. “By prioritizing applicants who are men, veterans or another underrepresented group, we can produce RNs from a variety of backgrounds to meet this need.”
Both schools see the new program as a natural, practical expansion of an already existing articulation agreement between the two.
“West Georgia Technical College is proud to participate in this rural nursing grant,” said Kristen Buoy, WGTC’s vice president of academic affairs. “Our partnership with the University of West Georgia strengthens our commitment to addressing healthcare workforce gaps and expanding access to high-quality care in the communities we serve.”
Dr. Jon Preston, UWG’s provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said the grant positions both institutions to play an even more vital role in the health and well-being of the region.
“This grant represents a significant investment in both our students and the communities we serve,” he concluded. “By expanding access to nursing education and strengthening the pipeline of highly trained professionals, we are fulfilling our mission to prepare graduates who will make an immediate and lasting impact on healthcare across west Georgia.”
