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Nursing shortage leads to
expansi n partnership
by Glenn Carson
outheast Georgia Health System (SGHS) and at the hospital. There are some 220 students in the program,
College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA) launched with expectations to increase that number to 340.
an expanded partnership in 2022 due to the Lydia Watkins, Dean of the School of Nursing and
S shortage of nurses and other health staff Health Sciences, said the college “feels extremely supported
following the COVID 19 pandemic. In the past, partnerships by the hospital. This partnership is a great asset to the
between the two were on a smaller scale. Now, with a community.” Watkins added, “This is a true win-win for
$2 million grant in place, CCGA has a complement of everyone involved.”
14 full-time faculty positions and 18 part-time instructors. At the end of the pandemic, with nursing shortages
While the plan underway now focuses on nursing staff, abounding, SGHS approached the college to learn how they
there is a potential to broaden the program to include could help one another. The needs were many, including
additional healthcare workers. Currently, students working additional faculty, more students in the program, and
toward the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are student retention. The grant provided by SGHS addressed
plugged into classes at the college and into onsite training those concerns and more. One of the new positions at the
16 Brunswick-Golden Isles Community Magazine • The Anchor • BrunswickGoldenislesChamber.com
