The School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers high-quality, experience-rich programs with outcomes focused on preparing students to be successful in a variety of in-demand healthcare professions.
A number of our programs have garnered regional and national recognition. Nursing and Health Sciences at Coastal Georgia are on the forefront of healthcare innovation and aim to provide education incorporating holistic care, patient advocacy, and collaborative practice.
Candidates maximize their experiential learning in public school, laboratory, and clinical settings based on their studies in the classroom. The affordable tuition, along with highly-qualified and engaged faculty, makes the College an easy choice for students looking to make an impact in the fields of Health Sciences and Nursing.
Completion of professional coursework includes internships, clinicals, and practicums, which provide supplemental knowledge beyond the classroom setting to prepare competent and caring professionals for the 21st Century. As you review the individual programs, you will learn more about the strength of our programs and success of our students. Our state-of-the-art facilities are an essential part of our hands-on teaching methodology, preparing students to thrive in their chosen professions.
Nursing and Health Sciences Majors and Degrees
Degrees
HEALTH SCIENCES (BS)
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EXERCISE SCIENCE
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HEALTH PROMOTION
RADIOLOGIC SCIENCE (AS)
Degrees
ASN (ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN NURSING)
BSN (PRE-LICENSURE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING)
RN TO BSN (BACHELOR’S DEGREE FOR LICENSED REGISTERED NURSES)
The College of Coastal Georgia offers bachelor’s and associate degrees, as well as minors and certificates.
Nursing Programs Earn Continuing Accreditation
This eight-year continued accreditation is the highest decision that can be presented to a program. The decision demonstrates the quality of the nursing programs at the College of Coastal Georgia and sets the College up for continued excellence and growth in the nursing department.
-Dr. Lydia Watkins, Southeast Georgia Health System Distinguished Chair, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Gov. Kemp Appoints Dr. Lydia Watkins to Georgia Board of Nursing
My journey in nursing has been shaped by the compassion and resilience of both my colleagues and students. It’s a testament to what the collective efforts of our nursing community can do. Together, we will ensure a safe, competent nursing practice where nurses can thrive and feel supported.
Meet Our Faculty/Staff
Simulation Center
Hands-on learning that mirrors real clinical practice
The Simulation Center at Coastal Georgia immerses students in lifelike healthcare scenarios, building confidence and clinical skill before they enter real patient settings.
College Breaks Ground on $16M Expansion
Many of the clinical programs offered by the College of Coastal Georgia School of Nursing and Health Sciences require a clinical internship or practicum experience to fulfill degree requirements. Pursuant to the College’s legal agreements, participants in clinical experiences are required to abide by the workplace rules of the clinical site. Sometimes, these rules include vaccinations requirements. As always, the SONHS will continue to make every effort to place students at clinical sites. However, please be aware that we may be unable to locate a site to accept unvaccinated students, which may cause a delay or inability to progress and complete the program of study.
Contact Information:
Nichol James
James earned her Associate of Arts degree from the University of Phoenix.
Dr. Christine Brown
Assistant Professor of Health Science and
Anatomy & Physiology
Education
DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Shenandoah University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching interests center on preparing undergraduate students with the hands-on, applied skills necessary for success in healthcare and health-related professions. I primarily teach Anatomy & Physiology at the lower-division level and upper-division courses within the Health Sciences program, including Functional Anatomy and Exercise Testing & Prescription. My teaching emphasizes active, experiential, and clinically applied learning through laboratory-based skill development and service-learning partnerships that allow students to design and implement health promotion programming for the college and surrounding community. My scholarly interests focus on student-led research and applied scholarship, with an emphasis on mentoring students through the development, completion, and presentation of poster projects on self-selected topics. This work highlights undergraduate research, critical thinking, and professional development while reinforcing evidence-based practice in health and exercise science.
Dr. Kathryn Ostrander
Education
DAT in Athletic Training, A.T. Still University
MPH in Public Health, Bryan University
MSEd in Kinesiology, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
BS in Kinesiology, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My teaching and research interests focus on the integration of exercise science, health promotion, and behavioral strategies to improve overall wellness and performance. I am particularly interested in exploring the physiological and psychological determinants of physical activity and how evidence-based interventions can foster sustainable health behavior change. Additionally, I support students in applying biomechanics and strength and conditioning principles through internships and in-the-field training to optimize human movement and enhance athletic performance.
Dr. Ashley Barnes
Program Coordinator for ASN, RN-BSN
Dr. Barnes earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgia Southwestern State University, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia Southern University, and her Associate of Science in Nursing from the College of Coastal Georgia. She is a Certified Nurse Educator. Prior to joining the Coastal Georgia faculty, Dr. Barnes worked for three years in CCU.
Dr. Nicole Fullard
Assistant Professor
Education
DNP in Nursing Practice, University of North Georgia
MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner, South University
BSN in Nursing, College of Coastal Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Fullard’s teaching and scholarly interests center on holistic nursing education with an emphasis on women’s health, palliative care, and fetal bereavement, with a strong focus on preparing students to provide compassionate, patient-centered care across the lifespan. Her work explores strategies to address compassion fatigue and prevent nurse burnout through proactive education, reflective practice, and supportive learning environments. Dr. Fullard is particularly interested in nursing pharmacology education and the integration of technology – including the ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence – to enhance clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and NCLEX readiness among nursing students.
Dr. Fullard’s recent scholarly activities include the development and implementation of simulation-based learning experiences in end-of-life and perinatal loss care, curricular innovations aimed at improving student engagement and clinical judgment, and ongoing dissemination of educational strategies focused on resilience, communication, and technology-enhanced nursing education.
Dr. Laura Grantham
Assistant Professor
Education
DNP in Nursing Educational Leadership, Post University
MSN in Nursing, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Georgia Southern University, formerly Armstrong Atlantic State University
BSN in Nursing, Georgia Southern University, formerly Armstrong Atlantic State University
ASN in Nursing, College of Coastal Georgia, formerly Coastal Georgia Community College
LPN in Nursing, College of Coastal Georgia, formerly Brunswick College
Teaching and Research Interests/Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Nursing Leadership & Management
Ethics of Nursing Practice
Fundamentals of Nursing Care
Putting it All Together, combining nursing concepts for success.
Computer-based testing versus paper-based testing in an ASN program.
Kimberly Graw
Education
M.S. in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner, Frontier Nursing University
B.S. in Nursing, Armstrong Atlantic State University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Kimberly Graw’s teaching and research interests include Pediatrics and Maternal Child Care with a focus in Community and Rural Health Care.
Elizabeth Gregory
Education
Master of Nursing in Education, Capella University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Georgia Southern University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Experience in intensive care, long-term care, mental health, addiction, home health, and hospice care.
Recent publication includes, “How is visual learning transforming the way we teach in Health Education?” with Wooclap.
Dr. Nevada LeCounte
Simulation Specialist
Dr. LeCounte is currently working to earn her Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Missouri, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgia College and State University. She is a Certified Medical Surgical Registered Nurse, a Progressive Care Certified Nurse, and a Certified Nurse Educator. Ms. LeCounte has several years of experience working on the intermediate and critical care units at Memorial University Medical Center. She began her career on a medical-surgical floor with a population spanning from pediatrics to geriatrics. She has additional experience caring for step-down, emergency, and postpartum patients.
Kathryn Lee
Education
MSN in Nursing Education, United States University
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, LaGrange College
Bachelor of Art in Psychological Sciences, LaGrange College
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
I am a nursing education faculty member with a strong focus on pediatric nursing and the preparation of future nurses to provide safe, compassionate, and family-centered care across a variety of settings. My teaching interests include pediatric health assessment, growth and development, school health, pediatric mental health, and clinical decision-making in children and adolescents. I am particularly passionate about experiential and community-based learning, integrating simulation, school nurse partnerships, and clinical rotations to support student competence and confidence. My scholarly interests include nursing education pedagogy, student clinical outcomes, pediatric health promotion, and community–academic partnerships, with ongoing scholarly activities related to curriculum development, program evaluation, and dissemination of best practices through presentations, collaborative projects, and professional engagement in nursing education organizations.
Kashawn Littlejohn
Littlejohn earned her Associate of Arts degree at South Georgia State College. Her certifications include Georgia Healthcare Financial Management Association – Certified Patient Account Representative.
Dr. Nicole Masano
Education
DNP in Nursing, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University
Post-Master’s Certificate in Health Informatics, University of Illinois at Chicago
MSN in Maternal-Newborn Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago
BSN in Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
My academic and professional focus centers on advancing community-based healthcare and maternal-newborn nursing through innovative, evidence-based practices. I am dedicated to improving health outcomes for mothers and infants by bridging the gap between clinical settings and community resources, ensuring equitable access to quality care. Furthermore, I am deeply committed to active engagement in teaching, employing student-centered pedagogical strategies that foster critical thinking and practical skill acquisition. By integrating my research into the classroom, I aim to inspire the next generation of nurses to become compassionate, skilled practitioners and advocates for public health.
Dr. Tara Mosher
Mosher earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from San Diego State University, and her Associate of Science in Nursing from Clayton State College. Her clinical expertise centers around surgical ICU and trauma.
Chloe Mulkey
Education
M.S.N., Master’s degree in Nursing, Augusta University
B.S.F.C.S., Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Chloe Mulkey is a nursing instructor at the College of Coastal Georgia. She aspires to gain to her Doctorate Degree, and has a passion for teaching in the hospital setting as well as in the classroom and laboratory. She is incorporating dynamic experiences within the classroom such as creating case studies and hands-on content to facilitate critical thinking. She is interested in attending conferences that will allow her to delve deeper as an instructor and learn more ways to engage students with various learning styles in the nursing content.
Dr. Maryanne Sandberg
Student Success Counselor
Education
ASN in Nursing, Burlington County Community College (now Rowan University)
BSN in Nursing, University of Phoenix
MSN in Nursing Education, Western Governors University
Ed.D. in Nursing Education, University of West Georgia
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Dr. Sandberg’s teaching interests include Nursing Research, Pediatrics, and Nursing Theory. She is also the Student Success Coordinator for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Her research interests include student success, service-learning, and High Impact Practices in Education (HIPS). She co-authored Teaching Social Justice in Undergraduate Nursing Education: An Integrative Review with Dr. Annette Elliott, Ed.D., in 2021. She has completed a new textbook: Research & Statistics for Nurses: Weighing the Evidence for Practice, which is in pre-production.
Dr. Lydia Watkins
Education
D.N.P. in Nursing, University of Alabama, Birmingham
M.S.N. in Nursing, University of Alabama, Birmingham
B.S.N. in Nursing, Samford University
A.S.N. in Nursing, Samford University
Teaching and Research Interests / Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Nursing clinical practice, teaching and research areas of focus include pediatrics, pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric hospice/palliative care. Academic focus areas of research center around service-learning’s benefits in the education and professional development of future nurses, as well as leadership development and methods to increase student success throughout academic programs.