Mercer University brings nursing program to Macon campus

Students seeking their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Mercer University previously had to transfer to Mercer’s Atlanta campus for their junior and senior years, but not anymore.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Students seeking their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Mercer University previously had to transfer to Mercer’s Atlanta campus for their junior and senior years, but not anymore.

For the first time, Mercer’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing now has classes and labs in Macon. Dr. Jennifer Bartlett, Associate Dean and Professor at the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, has worked in the program for 12 years. Like the program, this is her first semester in Macon.

“For a lot of years there’s been a desire to have the traditional residential experience here on the Macon campus,” Dr. Bartlett said.

Twenty-six students make up the program’s first Macon cohort, including Sarah Molnar, a transfer student who says she preferred the Macon campus due to its size.

“I’m a big community person and I like getting out,” Molnar said.  “So, I appreciate the bigger campus, the bigger schoolwide area.” 

Sydney Mouton is a cheerleader at Mercer. She says the nursing program coming to Macon is a game changer.

“Knowing that the Macon cohort was coming, it just really was exciting that I could still pursue athletics and continue in my educational career,” Mouton said. 

The students take classes together and meet weekly in the nursing lab for hands on-practice.

“We’ve just started learning the aseptic technique where we use sterile gloves and that’s just been really exciting,” Mouton said. “And coming in every week and learning new skills has just been really fun to see.”

Due to nation and statewide nursing shortages, Dr. Bartlett says the program on the Macon and Atlanta campuses look to continue expansion in the near future. She says bringing nursing to Macon will help strengthen the local healthcare workforce.

“Mercer is really committed to the Middle Georgia community,” Dr. Bartlett said. “We’re committed to Macon. And I think that this program being here serving Middle Georgia kind of exemplifies that.”