Galen College of Nursing marked a historic milestone Friday evening as its Las Vegas campus celebrated its first-ever graduation ceremony, honoring the inaugural Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) class in Nevada.
The ceremony took place at Shadow Hills Church and recognized 19 graduates who are prepared to enter the nursing workforce at a time of critical need for highly trained, compassionate nurses. This first graduating class represents a significant step forward in expanding access to high-quality nursing education in Southern Nevada.
“We are honored to celebrate the inaugural class of ADN-prepared nurses, who are ready to serve with compassion, confidence and competence,” said Dr. Bobbi Handy, dean of Galen’s Las Vegas campus.
According to workforce projections, the demand for registered nurses in Nevada is expected to outpace supply by more than 3,000 positions by 2030, underscoring the importance of practice-ready nursing programs that prepare graduates to meet the region’s growing healthcare needs.
Galen College of Nursing is proud to be a part of the HCA Healthcare family, a collaborative healthcare network and learning system comprised of approximately 2,500 sites of care across the United States and the United Kingdom. Together, Galen and HCA Healthcare are dedicated to expanding access to high-quality nursing education, supporting the nursing workforce and advancing excellence in patient care.
Locally, Galen’s Las Vegas campus partners closely with HCA Healthcare’s Sunrise Health System, the largest provider of complex care in Nevada. Sunrise Health System includes Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, along with dozens of additional care sites across the Las Vegas Valley. Collectively, the system employs nearly 8,000 healthcare professionals, including thousands of nurses, and admitted more than 95,000 patients in 2025.
That partnership helps create a direct pipeline from nursing education to employment. Nine members of Galen’s inaugural Las Vegas graduating class have already accepted positions with HCA Healthcare facilities and were recognized with special cords during the ceremony to signify their continuation with the organization.
“This moment reflects years of sacrifice, discipline and determination, and our graduates have truly earned the title of nurse,” said Annette Greenwood, chief nurse executive for HCA Healthcare Far West Division. “While today marks an important milestone, it also represents a meaningful transition into a profession that demands excellence, courage and compassion. As they begin this next chapter, how they choose to practice, grow and lead will have a lasting impact. In nursing, knowledge and critical thinking are essential—because the ability to recognize subtle changes and act decisively can make all the difference for the patients and communities we serve.”
About Galen College of Nursing
Founded more than 35 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing schools in the United States, with more than 50,000 graduates. With a focus solely on nursing education and a mission to expand access to nursing education, the College offers masters, baccalaureate and associate degree education and practical/vocational nursing (PN/VN) programs to more than 18,000 students on its 24 campuses in 12 states and online. Galen College of Nursing (Galen) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Galen also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. For more information about Galen College of Nursing, visit galencollege.edu.
About Sunrise Health System
The Sunrise Health System, which includes Sunrise Hospital, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital, is the largest provider of complex care in the state of Nevada and is home to one of only two Level 1 trauma centers in the state. We employ nearly 8,000 Nevadans and last year alone we invested $113 million in capital investment locally. In 2025, we admitted 95,000 patients throughout our four hospitals and six freestanding emergency rooms. Our overall system of care is made up of 50 sites across the Las Vegas valley, including specialty clinics, urgent care centers and outpatient facilities.
The Sunrise Health System is committed to developing our local healthcare workforce through programs like the Sunrise Health Medical Education Consortium and Galen College of Nursing to train the next generation of clinicians so that our community has access to world class care close to home. Sunrise Health System and its hospitals in Nevada are proud to be part of HCA Healthcare, a global leader with 190 hospitals and more than 2,400 care sites across 20 states and the United Kingdom. Our scale and reach allow the Sunrise Health System to leverage advanced technology, cutting-edge research and evidence-based medicine to advance patient care.
