In comparison to an Associate of Science in Nursing degree, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing is costly, lengthy, and difficult. If you could begin practicing as a registered nurse in just two years, why should you invest the extra time and money to pursue a BSN degree? There are many good reasons to choose the BSN route to nursing. A key reason is the current drive by healthcare agencies and employers to boost the educational preparation of the registered nursing workforce. Studies show that nurses educated at the baccalaureate level have better patient outcomes, are better prepared to lead out in holistic care, and adapt to the complexities in the health care system. Apart from the benefit to the health care system, the BSN will provide personal and professional rewards. It will give you a competitive edge over nurses with an associate degree, broaden your career options, and help you become an overall better nurse.
The University of North Florida- School of Nursing
The School of Nursing at the University of North Florida offers four tracks that lead to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The regular prelicensure BSN is for first-time nursing students who want to prepare for a career in nursing. An accelerated prelicensure BSN, freshman admit nursing program, and RN to BSN programs are also available. The BSN nursing curriculum offers a strong scientific base backed by diverse clinical experiences and opportunities to work vulnerable and underserved populations. The coursework is designed to encourage engagement with the community throughout the duration of the program. Students will build relationships with community agencies as they are assigned to a designated community for the length of the program. The BSN curriculum provides a strong foundation for graduate study in nursing. The program is accredited by the ACEN and approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Graduates will be prepared for success on the NCLEX for Registered Nurses. Admission to the program is limited due to the specific student-to-faculty ratio for clinical education settings.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 87
Duration: 4 years
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Prerequisite courses – General Psychology, Lifespan Development Psych or Human Growth and Development Across the Life Span, Elementary Statistics, Basic Principles of Human Nutrition, Microbiology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, An Additional Science Course
Courses – Fundamental Nursing Concepts Practice, Health Assessment, Family/Community Assessment, Pharmacology Concepts for Nurse Practice, Introduction to Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Chronic Rehab Nursing Concepts Practice, Concepts of Professional Nursing, Medical Surgical Nursing Concepts Practical, Ethical Legal Concepts in Nursing Health, Women’s Health Nursing Concepts and Practical, Research Translation, (One Elective), Pediatric Nursing Concepts and Practical, Leadership Management Concepts Nursing, Complex Nursing Concepts Practical, (One Elective), Community Partnerships/Nursing Practice, Professional Nursing Integration, (One Elective)
Admission criteria:
- Must satisfy the UNF General Education and Gordon Rule requirements before program matriculation with 60 semester hours of courses or an AA from a Florida public institution
- Submit a completed application to UNF and pay the application fee of $30
- Must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Complete the BSN prerequisite courses with a minimum cumulative ungergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above
- Take and pass the TEAS within the last five years with a minimum score of 315. Must submit all TEAS Individual Performance Profiles directly to the program before the application deadline
- Submit transcripts from all institutions awarding credit
- Provide proof of current CPR certification for adult, child, and 2-person
- Submit a negative TB skin test or chest x-ray completed within the previous 12 months
- Provide documentation of immunization – Hepatitis B, Varicella, TD or TDAP
- Submit a health report indicating good health and no condition that would prohibit patient care
- Complete a background check and 12-panel drug screen
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $14,605 annually (Fall and Spring semesters) for undergraduate, in-state students completing 15 credits per semester. Expenses for books, uniforms, and nursing supplies must be added to the cost.
- Website: https://www.unf.edu/
- Address: 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224-2649
- Phone: (904) 620-2684
- FAX: (904) 620-1832
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.30%
Chamberlain University
The BSN program at Chamberlain University prepares students for practice as a professional nurse. The curriculum integrates theory, psychomotor skill acquisition and development of clinical judgment and reasoning. It promotes professional, ethical and legal standards with decision-making, problem-solving and leadership development. The first year of the program will be committed to the completion of general education requirements. Core nursing courses will commence in the second year of the program. During the clinical phase of the program, students will develop nursing skills as they provide direct patient care in acute, long-term, and other health care facilities. Learning will also take place in the lab where learning is centered on simulated and virtual activities. Graduates will have the confidence to succeed on the NCLEX-RN and will commit to lifelong learning. They will be prepared to provide individualized comprehensive care based on the principles of nursing, demonstrate leadership and collaboration with patients and health care providers, communicate effectively with patient populations, use clinical judgment in professional decision-making, and demonstrate responsibility for continued personal and professional development.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 122
Duration: 3 years
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Courses – Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab, Quantitative Reasoning, Transition to the Nursing Profession, Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab, Culture & Society, English & Communication, Anatomy and Physiology III with Lab, Advanced English Composition, Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology IV with Lab, Lifespan Development, Health & Wellness, Intro to General, Organic & Biological Chemistry with Lab, Fundamentals of Microbiology with Lab, Critical Reasoning, Interpersonal Communication, Health Assessment I, Pathophysiology, Health Assessment II, Fundamentals – Skills, Fundamentals – Patient Care, Pharmacology for Nursing Practice, Adult Health I, Nutrition, Health & Wellness, Adult Health II, Mental Health Nursing, Information Systems in Healthcare, Pediatric Nursing, Applied Managerial Statistics, Maternal Child Nursing, Political Science, Complex Adult Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Community Health Nursing, Principles of Ethics, Collaborative Healthcare, Humanities Elective, Capstone Course, History Elective
Admission criteria:
- Must satisfy the requirements for admission to Chamberlain University
- Complete the prerequisite courses before admission to the program
- Take and pass the admission exam – TEAS
- Complete a satisfactory drug screen
- Submit a completed and signed Personal Healthcare Responsibility Letter of Understanding and Confidentiality Statement
- Provide proof of health insurance
- Complete a Virtual Compliance Orientation
- Must take the HIPAA Review and Quiz
- Complete OSHA Review and Quiz
- Must have current American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers or American Red Cross CPR – Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Complete the Physical Form – signed and dated by a licensed healthcare provider
- Submit record of immunization history to include MMR, Varicella, Tdap, 2-step OOD, Hepatitis B
Program Cost:
The total program cost of $88,225 includes the application fee, tuition, background check, fingerprint, drug screen, student injury and sickness insurance plan, service charge, books, and supplies. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.chamberlain.edu/
- Address: 5200 Belfort Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256
- Phone: 877.751.5783
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 71.88%
University of Florida – College of Nursing
The traditional BSN program at the University of Florida prepares students for employment as professional nurse. The curriculum includes lower division (general education and required pre-professional courses) and upper-division nursing courses. Students will learn in the classroom and in various health care facilities such as community health agencies, clinics, hospitals, and more. The nursing courses run sequentially and include a classroom and lab component that are correlated with supervised clinical experiences. Faculty will highlight variations in health care, development of evidence in practice including clinical judgment and the research process, management of patients from various backgrounds and cultures, and professional role behaviors. Graduates will be prepared to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurses.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 60 – not including general education courses
Duration: 4 semesters
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Courses – Lead and Inspire I: Professional Nursing Practice, Pathophysiology/Pharmacology in Nursing I, Clinical Reasoning: Health Assessment, Principles of Personalized Nursing Care I, Lead and Inspire 2: Research and Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Pathophysiology/Pharmacology in Nursing 2, Principles of Personalized Nursing Care 2, Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Adult Acute Conditions, Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Mental Health, Lead and Inspire 3: Policy and Change in Nursing Practice, Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Women, Children and Families,
Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Adult Chronic Conditions, Lead and Inspire 4: Leadership and Innovation in Nursing Practice, Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Population Health, Clinical Reasoning and Personalized Nursing Care: Adult with Complex Conditions, Professional Nursing Transformation
Admission criteria:
- Must satisfy the requirements for admission to the University of Florida
- Complete the preprofessional requirements before applying to the nursing major – Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Microbiology, Statistics, Human Growth and Development, Human Nutrition
- Submit the NursingCAS application before the published deadline
- Complete the HESI A2 exam – required areas include Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Grammar, Math, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Learning, and Personality Style
- Complete a satisfactory drug screen
- Provide proof of health insurance
- Must have current American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers or American Red Cross CPR – Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Must be in good physical and mental health as indicated by a health report signed and dated by a licensed healthcare provider
- Submit a record of immunization history to include MMR, Varicella, Tdap, 2-step OOD, Hepatitis B
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $6,380 per year for in-state students enrolled in an undergraduate program. Estimated expenses add up to approximately $3,400 and include a background check, immunizations, textbooks, uniforms, stethoscope, ATI testing, licensure prep materials, travel to clinical sites, and graduation items. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://nursing.ufl.edu/
- Address: 1225 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL 32610
- Phone: 352-273-6400
- Email: conweb@health.ufl.edu
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 75%
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University takes a hands-on approach to teaching students enrolled in the BSN program. Students will develop skills through activities in the school’s state-of-the-art simulation labs and clinical sessions conducted at renowned clinical facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and community agencies. The lock-step program requires the completion of the coursework in a set sequence. So, students must complete each course with a passing grade before progressing to the next course in the sequence. On-campus sessions are four days a week and clinical experiences are one day a week on Tuesday or Saturday. Graduates will be prepared to take the NCLEX-RN.
Program Outline
Semester credits: 64 – not including general education courses
Duration: 28 months
Method of instruction: Traditional
Course titles:
Courses – Foundations of Professional Nursing, Nursing Assessment, Essentials of Professional Nursing Theory, Essentials of Professional Nursing Practice, Foundations of Pharmacology, Conceptual Approach to Pathophysiology, Part I, Adult Health Theory, Adult Health Practice, Mental Health and Pharmacology Nursing Theory, Mental Health and Pharmacology Nursing Practice, Nursing Research, Child-Rearing Family Theory, Child-Rearing Family Practice, Nursing Care of the Child-Bearing Family Theory, Nursing Care of the Child-Bearing Family Practice, Advanced Adult Health and Pharmacology, Advanced Adult Health Practice, Conceptual Approach to Pathophysiology, Part II, Community Health Nursing Theory, Community Health Nursing Practice, Critical Care Nursing Theory, Critical Care Nursing Practice, Nursing Leadership and Transition to Practice, Nursing Synthesis
Admission criteria:
- Submit an undergraduate application online
- Submit unofficial transcripts from all previous colleges or universities
- Submit proof of current enrollment in any of the prerequisite courses
- Submit a completed essay as a writing sample responding to each of three prompts
- Complete a one-way recording recorded virtual interview – link to interview is found within the online application
- Take the TEAS IPP Report – upload the scores to the online application
- Submit the NursingCAS application before the published deadline
- Complete the HESI A2 exam – required areas include Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Grammar, Math, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Learning, and Personality Style
- Complete a satisfactory drug screen
- Provide proof of health insurance
- Must have current American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Providers or American Red Cross CPR – Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
- Must be in good physical and mental health as indicated by a health report signed and dated by a licensed healthcare provider
- Submit a record of immunization history to include MMR, Varicella, Tdap, 2-step OOD, Hepatitis B
Program Cost:
Tuition costs $42,250 per year for full-time students. Financial aid is available for eligible students.
- Website: https://www.ju.edu/index.php
- Address: 2800 University Blvd N, Jacksonville, FL 32211
- Phone: (904) 256-8000
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 53.85%