Dr. Elizabeth Gay received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Augusta University’s College of Nursing Athens after attending the University of Georgia for her freshman and sophomore undergraduate years. She worked as an intensive care unit nurse prior to going back to Augusta University for her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Currently, Dr. Gay works as a pediatric Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and Assistant Professor in the Nursing Anesthesia Program at Augusta University.
As a high school senior, there were two things I knew for certain – I wanted to attend the University of Georgia, and I wanted to become a registered nurse. I knew that attending a university without its own nursing program poses some challenges, so I would like to share my story with future and current UGA students who want to become nurses to encourage you to join this amazing profession!
After attending freshman orientation at UGA, I was feeling lost. I learned that UGA did not have its own nursing program; this meant that I had to transfer after two years to a different school or complete a major in a different subject before applying to nursing school. At the time, there were no pre-nursing advisors available at UGA. I declared my major as biology to be able to take the science classes I needed for nursing school, and ascertaining exactly which classes were needed to apply to various nursing programs seemed overwhelming.
I wanted to meet with other students who had the same career goals, so I created the UGA Pre-Nursing Society to grow a community of pre-nursing students who could support each other. Through this society, I was able to meet students who had previously been successful attending different nursing schools, help others navigate which pre-requisite classes to take, and encourage fellow UGA students working towards becoming a nurse. My sophomore year, I was accepted to multiple nursing programs and eventually decided to attend Augusta University’s College of Nursing Athens.
By attending Augusta University’s College of Nursing, I was able to remain in Athens, have a UGA student ID, and continue to participate in everything that Athens and UGA had to offer. I was able to maintain memberships in various organizations, including my sorority, and still study in my favorite spots in the student learning center. I felt connected to UGA through Augusta University, and I am so grateful for the College of Nursing Athens’ faculty who helped me grow as a nursing student and become the professional I always wanted to be.
If you are interested in attending the University of Georgia and you want to become a Registered Nurse, there are many ways to build a competitive application. The University of Georgia still has a Pre-Nursing Society that meets regularly to encourage and support each other in achieving their goals and dreams. This organization is instrumental in providing leadership opportunities and presenting information on various nursing programs throughout the state. The Pre-Nursing Society can also introduce pre-nursing students to faculty members at nursing programs who are willing to mentor UGA students and help them become competitive applicants. I continue to this day to be involved! UGA also has pre-nursing advisors that can more easily guide towards classes you’ll need and different pathways you can take. I encourage you to explore the hundreds of student-led volunteer opportunities, such as Shop with a Bulldog, which allow you to give back to the Athens community while also bolstering your applications.
You can do as I did and transfer to a traditional BSN program after completing two years of pre-requisite courses, or you can attend accelerated BSN programs or Masters of Clinical Nurse Leader programs. All these paths will allow you to bleed red and black while being trained in how to bandage it back up! Do yourself a favor and explore these opportunities that are available both at Augusta University and Augusta University’s College of Nursing Athens!