Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences Advisory Board Hosts Fall 2020 Meeting
Gordon State College’s Nursing, Health and Natural Sciences Advisory (NAHS) board met virtually on Friday with 23 members in attendance to facilitate the college’s engagement with community partners. President Kirk A. Nooks opened the meeting with discussions about the status of the college and the environment of remote learning. Provost & Vice President of Academic Affairs C. Jeffery Knighton shared the Highlander EDGE and how it enhances the performance of the nursing and Health Information Management (HIM) graduates in the workforce.
The nursing department subcommittee, led by Director of Nursing Samantha Bishop, discussed the impacts of COVID-19, student activity involvement through the student organization GCANS, projected admissions for the ASN cohort in the Spring 2021, the need for more clinical faculty in order to admit more students in the Spring 2021 and the current status of the students enrolled in all nursing programs. The advisory committee shared some of the concerns currently in the workforce. The discussion centered on preceptorship hour requirements and placement. Ideas and input exchanged will be considered for future clinical placements.
The Health Information Management (HIM) subcommittee lead by Victoria Mills, discussed the college’s recent Accreditation Site Visit, Clinical Site Placement during the Pandemic and Curriculum/Course Changes.
Members included Schvon Bussey, CHE Behavioral Health; Charlotte Costello, Nurse Educator, Coliseum Northside; Sherry Farr, County Nurse Manager for Lamar and Upson County Health Departments in District 4; Marci Hanson, Student Placement/ Nurse Educator, Piedmont Health Care; Jeff Mills, Board of Directors Member, Piedmont Henry; Jennifer McCollum HIM Operations Manager, Northside Hospital Atlanta, Morris Pride, Region Director HIM Operations South, Wellstar Health Systems, Lesley Stephens , Clinical Nurse Educator, The Medical Center, Navicent Health; Carman Templeton, Upson Regional Medical Center and Valerie Wrice, Addison Group. Gordon State College colleagues included: NAHS Academic Services Assistant II Jennifer Alford; Bishop; HIM Lecturer Melanie Crooms; Assistant Professor of Biology Inez Jones; Knighton; HIM Department Head Victoria Mills; Nooks; NAHS Academic Services Assistant II Darlene O’Baner; Special Assistant to the President LaSha Sanders and NAHS Dean Victor Vilchiz.