ABAC Bainbridge to offer evening program for Nursing ASN degree

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Bainbridge campus will begin offering a Nursing at Night program in the spring semester of 2025. School officials hope to attract students interested in pursuing an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree, but who may have conflicts with a more traditional schedule.

“ABAC Bainbridge decided to offer this program to not only meet the needs of our healthcare partners, but also to offer an alternative to students who want to be a nurse but cannot attend the program during the day because of work, childcare responsibilities, or other obstacles,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ross, Dean of the School of Nursing at ABAC. “Taking advantage of the Nursing at Night program allows students to continue to work during the day or utilize other forms of childcare, providing the opportunity to pursue a new career or advance their current career.”

“We are so pleased to offer this new Nursing at Night program to our students,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “An important part of ABAC’s mission is making sure our students graduate ready to enter the workforce and fill vital jobs. We pride ourselves on knowing our graduates will have the necessary skills and knowledge to lead successful lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities. The hands-on, experiential learning ASN students will receive at ABAC Bainbridge is a shining example of how we fulfill that mission.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to offer this opportunity to the entire region,” said Dr. Michael Kirkland, Executive Director of ABAC Bainbridge. “It serves a critical need in southwest Georgia and also offers a life-changing opportunity to our students.”

Ross said the evening program will follow the same pathway as traditional, daytime classes, with students being eligible to take the registered nurse licensure exam (NCLEX-RN) to become a Professional Registered Nurse (RN) after four semesters. The curriculum for the evening classes will mirror the curriculum of the traditional nursing program offered during the day. Ross added that classes, including skills labs and clinicals, will begin at 6 p.m. and should be offered three to four times a week.

“Brandy Howard has recently been hired to be the lead faculty member for the Nursing at Night courses,” said Ross. “Ms. Howard is thrilled to be a part of the ABAC Bainbridge family and is excited to be able to help students achieve their goal of becoming a nurse using the night option.”

ABAC Bainbridge’s Hawthorn Health Sciences Center boasts classrooms and labs that resemble a real hospital, including a pediatric room, surgical room, and orthopedic room. Students practice with mannequins to mirror real-life situations.

While the deadline for admission to the Nursing at Night program is not until the fall, prospective students must be accepted to ABAC before applying to the nursing program. Students are also encouraged to complete their pre-requisite classes during the summer and fall semesters this year.

Anyone seeking more information about the new program can contact Ashley Robinson at (229) 243-4280 or Ashley.Robinson@abac.edu. Information is also available at abac.edu/nursingatnight.