Francis Marion University Nursing School Review

Located just outside Florence, South Carolina, Francis Marion University (founded in 1970) serves the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. About 95 percent of the students at this state school are from South Carolina. They can pursue undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts, business, education, and nursing, and graduate degrees in business, education, and psychology.

While Francis Marion University (FMU) has hosted nursing students since 1998, it didn’t found its own Department of Nursing until 2004. Prior to that, Francis Marion University hosted students from the Medical University of South Carolina School of Nursing. Francis Marion University acted as a satellite campus of the Medical University of South Carolina. Now, Francis Marion University itself offers several different degree paths for prospective nurses and Registered Nurses (RN) who wish to continue their education. All nursing programs (which are offered through the College of Liberal Arts) are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

In order to earn Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Francis Marion University, a student must spend two years completing general education courses in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and math. In total, he must earn fifty-nine credits in his first two years. After this, he can focus on nursing coursework. The next two semesters include sixty-one credits of nursing coursework. A student can expect to spend nearly 1000 hours completing clinical rotations during these two years. He may begin the two-year sequence of nursing courses in either the fall or the spring. After four years, he earns his BSN degree and is eligible to take the National Council Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Second-Degree Students

Francis Marion University’s BSN program is well suited for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing. As the traditional BSN program is neatly divided into two parts, one for general education courses and the other for nursing courses, a second-degree student can skip the first part and begin immediately with the two-year sequence of nursing courses. However, if she is missing any prerequisites (which include several science classes, psychology, and statistics), she will need to complete these before beginning the nursing sequence of courses.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN Track

Through Francis Marion University’s Department of Nursing, an RN who is a graduate of an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program or a diploma in nursing program can earn a full BSN. Before enrolling in the program, he will meet with a program advisor who will evaluate his transcript. The advisor will determine how many (if any) general education courses the RN needs to complete and, working with a committee, will determine how many advanced placement credits the incoming RN should receive for his previous nursing coursework and his work experience. Based on this evaluation of his transcript, the advisor will map out an appropriate course of study. The length of the RN to BSN program will vary, then, depending on this evaluation.  

Contact:
Francis Marion University
4822 E Palmetto Street, 
Florence, SC 29502