HISTORY

DEPARTMENT OF NURSING

AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY

The two-year associate degree program in nursing was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in November, 1967. The new program lead to the closure of the University Hospital School of Nursing in keeping with the national trend toward two-year programs instead of hospital-based diploma schools.

Miss Louise D. Bryant of Raleigh, North Carolina, was appointed as Director of Nursing Education in July, 1968. She was a graduate Of George Peabody College with the B.S. degree. She earned the M.S. degree at Case Western Reserve University and pursued further graduate education at the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina. She had several years of experience as educational consultant to Associate Degree Programs in Nursing for the North Carolina State Board of Education. Ms. Bryant began her appointment in September, 1968, to begin establishing the nursing program, develop the curricula, and recruit faculty.

The community of Augusta was involved with the program from the onset. The Garden City Business and Professional Women's Club raised $150 for nursing books through a barbecue they sponsored.

The first students enrolled into the nursing program in the fall of 1969. Twenty-five students graduated in June 1971. Since that time there have been a total of 1,128 graduates from ASU’s nursing program. We are proud of our heritage at Augusta State University and of all the students and faculty who have been a part of the Department of Nursing. The program is fully accredited by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission and has an excellent reputation in the community. Graduates are actively recruited by local hospitals.