Dalton State College’s School of Health Professions has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce to expand enrollment, strengthen training programs and graduate more nurses to meet the growing and critical demand for nursing professionals across the state.
“We’re grateful for this investment in Dalton State College and in the future of healthcare across our region by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce,” Kurt Thaw, dean of the School of Health Professions, said. “Our graduates are filling critical roles in local hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities, and this grant helps ensure that we graduate more nurses prepared to enter the workforce and serve our communities with compassion and excellence.”
More than 80% of Dalton State nursing graduates remain in Georgia to work, with the majority serving northwest Georgia communities.
The grant will fund an advanced video recording system for simulation lab training, allowing instructors to evaluate more students through multi-angle recordings. The technology also provides detailed feedback and assessments to help students strengthen clinical skills and prepare for their licensure exams, while doubling the number of students who can be evaluated per simulation module.
“We don’t expect students to get everything right the first time. But we do expect them to get everything right before they graduate,” Thaw said. “These software upgrades will allow students to review their recorded simulations to identify strengths and areas requiring additional practice before beginning clinical rotations in hospitals and local clinics.”
The grant will also fund state-of-the-art ventilator training systems, providing students with hands-on experience with industry-standard critical care equipment to help address the intensive care unit staffing crisis.
Dalton State has received additional special funding from the Georgia Legislature, allocated through the University System of Georgia, over the past three years that supported equipment upgrades, additional faculty, the expansion of nursing programs to the Mountain Campus in Ellijay, Ga., and increased cohort capacity.
“These investments allow Dalton State to remain responsive to the healthcare workforce needs of northwest Georgia by expanding access to high-demand programs, strengthening hands-on training, and ensuring our graduates are prepared to move seamlessly into essential roles that support the health and economic vitality of our communities,” Gina Kertulis-Tartar, provost and vice president said.
To ensure clinical training opportunities align with workforce needs and facilitate smooth graduate-to-employment transitions, the college has established strategic partnerships with regional healthcare providers, including Vitruvian Health and AdventHealth, as well as Georgia Northwestern Technical College, underscoring the college’s commitment to supporting the region’s workforce.
As one of the state’s most affordable public four-year institutions, Dalton State provides accessible pathways to nursing careers for students. To learn more about nursing programs at Dalton State, visit www.daltonstate.edu.
