Florida State University Nursing School Review

Founded in 1851, Florida State University (FSU) is founding among the oldest institutions in the United States and claims to be the oldest institution in the Florida State University system. Student life at Florida State University is vibrant, with athletics being at the forefront due to the university’s popular football program.

The school enrolls over 40,000 students representing over 100 countries all of the Unites States. The university has also been recognized for its record numbers of enrollment for students from ethnic minority groups. Among Florida State University’s students are unique scholar-athletes who have received the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Faculty members have also received numerous distinction and Nobel Laureates are included among the Florida State University Faculty. Florida State University has 16 colleges and over 275 programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and certificate level.

Review of Florida State University Nursing Degree Programs

The College of Nursing at Florida State University is a vibrant department offering high tech resources, active classrooms and clinical opportunities to its students. The university is awarded with the Carnegie Institute’s highest research designation, and nursing students have many opportunities to participate in research opportunities in addition to classroom education. Courses are held in the four-story College of Nursing building which house the simulation lab and classrooms enhanced with the latest educational technology. Nursing programs at Florida State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing education (CCNE).

Florida State University Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Traditional BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) Degree Program

The traditional BSN program at Florida State University accepts primarily freshman students, though a limited number of transfer students may be accepted. Students must complete an application to both the College of Nursing and College of Nursing for consideration to the program. Admission requirements include a 3.0 GPA overall and in science courses. Despite this, the program is very competitive and in the past the minimum for admitted students has included a 4.00 GPA among and all admitted students.

Accelerated BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

The Accelerated BSN program is ideal for nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, and would like to earn a BSN. Admission requirements include a 3.2 GPA on all college work attempted. Students must submit an application to Florida State University and the College of Nursing as well as exam results for the HESI-A2 exam (a common test used in the nursing admission process).

Florida State University Graduate Degree Programs

MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) Degree Programs

MSN Nurse Leader

The MSN Nurse Leader degree program is the newest of the nursing program offerings at Florida State University. The program focuses on holistic training at the graduate nursing level as well as the management aspects of nursing such as human resources and financial management. Nurses who complete this course are eligible to take the national certification exam offered through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The program is offered online in order that nurses may continue to work while pursuing higher education. The program is completed in approximately 2 years, with the final semester being required only for nurses seeking certification.

MSN Nurse Educator

The MSN Nurse Educator program at Florida State University prepares nurses to take on educating patients, nurses, and pre-nursing students in both clinical and academic settings. As a result the nursing program incorporates both theory and practice. Program curriculum has been designed to meet requirements set by the National League for Nursing (NLN) and Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Key focus of the program includes the teaching process, curriculum development and implementation and evaluation. The program can be completed in approximately two years.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Degree Program

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is designed for nurses who would like to remain in clinical practice at the highest level, rather than pursuing an academic, research based degree which often leads to administrative work. Students in this program may choose from two tracks, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Health Systems Leadership. The DNP curriculum has been developed according to guidelines put forth by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The Health Systems Leadership track focuses on assessing and organizing health care organizations, while the FNP track involves a fusion of roles of the nurse as clinician, consultant and researcher. Nurses who complete the FNP track are eligible to take the national certification exam as an FNP. Both programs require a 1000 hour practicum.

Florida State University’s DNP program is unique in that only requires students hold a BSN to begin the program. Classes for the program are delivered online and through video-conference technology. Students who enter the program with an MSN degree are eligible to transfer a maximum of 42 credits. The DNP program is 90 credits total.

Florida State University Certificate Programs

The University offers three nursing certificate programs in the same areas as its MSN programs, Nurse Educator and Nurse Leaders. Students interested in the Nurse Leader certificate can pursue the certificate at the graduate (after completing the BSN) and post-graduate level (after completing the MSN). The program can be usually be completed in one or two semesters.

Nursing Resources at Florida State University

In addition to the latest technology and classroom resources available to its students, Florida State University has a wide variety of resources for nurses from funding opportunities to community service projects. The university has developed the Havana Health and Wellness Center to serve members of Havana who are primarily insured. The center, located at Havana Middle School is in the process of being developed and has the hope of serving a wide variety of patients in Havana.

The project is a joint collaboration with Florida A&M University as well as several local community colleges. The project is interdisciplinary in nature, with involvement from health professionals in a variety of fields including social work and medicine. The college also has a large number of internal scholarships with an annual deadline as well as links to external funding sources and organizations for students pursuing nursing degrees.

Contact:
Florida State University
600 West College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32306

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