Nursing Undergraduate Programs
College of Nursing
Website: https://nursing.fsu.edu/
Dean: Wang; Associate Deans: Ahn, Hartline, Baker; Assistant Deans: Barfield, Couillard, Palazzo; Professors: Ahn, Budhwani, Hightow-Weidman, Karioth, Miao, Muessig, Wang, Whyte, Wong; Associate Professors: Abbott, Cormier, Dickey, Graven, Liu, Martorella, Millender, H. Park; Assistant Professors: Bahorski, Bamber, Chen, Newlin-Bradner, Sorkpor, Xavier Hall; Teaching Faculty III: Baker, Craig-Rodriguez, Greenhalgh, Kung, Palazzo, Tucker; Teaching Faculty II: Barfield, Hartline, Hayes, Johnson-Byrd, Lipford, Scott-King, Whitten, Winton; Teaching Faculty I: Brewer, Couillard, Douthett, Keane, Salsgiver, Wheeler; Instructional Specialist I: Dormeus
The College of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The undergraduate program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). At the completion of the program the student will have met all major requirements for the BSN. The graduate of the undergraduate nursing program will have met the academic eligibility requirements for taking the registered nurse state licensing examination. The mission of the College of Nursing is to educate clinicians, leaders, scholars, and advanced practitioners who can enhance the quality of life for people of all cultures, economic levels, and geographic locations. The College of Nursing integrates the liberal arts and sciences with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for lifelong learning, personal responsibility, and sustained achievement in the nursing professional and the communities in which our graduates work.
The program is an upper division limited access major, accepting students generally in the junior year, with required sequential course offerings and elective courses in nursing. The nursing courses are based on concepts and principles from liberal studies, the supporting biological and behavioral sciences, and nursing. This theoretical base is used with the nursing process in the systematic development of nursing care for individuals and groups in a variety of health care settings.
The College of Nursing offers honors in the major to encourage talented students to undertake independent research. For requirements and other information, see the "University Honors Office and Honor Societies" section of this General Bulletin.
For complete details of programs offered and admission requirements, plus a description of the college, its facilities, opportunities, and available financial assistance, refer to the "College of Nursing" chapter of this General Bulletin. For current course offerings, please refer to the FSU College of Nursing Website, at https://nursing.fsu.edu/.
Computer Skills Competency
All undergraduates at Florida State University must demonstrate basic computer skills competency prior to graduation. As necessary computer competency skills vary from discipline to discipline, each major determines the courses needed to satisfy this requirement. Undergraduate majors in nursing and accelerated nursing satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of "C" or higher in NUR 4169.
State of Florida Common Program Prerequisites for Nursing
The Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) houses the statewide, internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs, and resources offered by Florida's public colleges and universities, and they have developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that all institutions must follow. The statute governing this policy can be reviewed by visiting https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/1006.73.
FLVC has identified common program prerequisites for the degree program in Nursing. To obtain the most up-to-date, state-approved prerequisites for this degree, visit: https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/104/211 and https://cpm.flvc.org/programs/105/212.
Specific prerequisites are required for admission into the upper-division program and must be completed by the student at either a community college or a state university prior to being admitted to this program. Students may be admitted into the University without completing the prerequisites but may not be admitted into the program.
Definition of Prefixes
NGR—Nursing: Graduate
NSP—Nursing: Special
NUR—Nursing: Generic Undergraduate
Undergraduate Courses
Theory/Laboratory Courses Required
NUR 3026L. Integrated Nursing Skills Lab (1). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing Program. Corequisites: NUR 3056, NUR 3056L, NUR 3065, and NUR 3065L. This course gives nursing students the opportunity to practice nursing skills learned in Foundations and Health Assessment classes. This course uses deliberate practice to reinforce quality and safety issues, integrating these skills into therapeutic nursing interventions. As students gain competency, scenarios of nursing care are introduced and the students are asked to implement their skills into providing safe, effective, evidence-based patient care.
NUR 3033C. Transition to Professional Nursing Practice for Veterans (6). Prerequisite: Admission to the Undergraduate Nursing Program. This course establishes the skillset of students who served as Corpsman and Medics within the context of professional nursing and to facilitate their transition to the Registered Nurse role. The course uses a body systems based approach to introduce assessment and fundamental aspects of nursing care. Each week, a new body system is introduced, along with the elements of practice and clinical decision-making dictated by the nursing process. The course also serves to prepare the veteran student for future clinical experiences.
NUR 3056. Foundations of Nursing Practice (3). Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing major. Corequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. This course introduces the nursing student to the foundations of professional nursing practice which includes multidimensional aspects of clients/families, the relationship between quality of care and client outcomes, patient safety, communication, and use of evidence to support practice.
NUR 3056L. Foundations of Nursing Practice Lab (2). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing major. Corequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. This course provides the application component of NUR 3056. Under the guidance of lab instructors, the student is given opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge from NUR 3056 in practice sessions. Demonstration; low, medium, and high fidelity simulation scenarios; deliberate practice methods; debriefing; and reflective instructional approaches are used.
NUR 3065. Health Assessment, Wellness and Prevention Across the Lifespan (3). Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing major. Corequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. This course introduces the nursing student to concepts and models of wellness and health promotion for individuals, families, and communities. Included are communication and interview techniques in compiling a health history, technical skills in performing a physical exam, clinical reasoning skills in doing a health risk appraisal, formulating nursing diagnoses appropriate to identified problems, and understanding the role of the nurse in patient education. Client's cultural differences, development stage, family structure, economic situation, and health behaviors are considered when evaluating health status. In addition, the role of the nurse in patient education is emphasized.
NUR 3065L. Health Assessment, Wellness and Prevention Across the Lifespan Lab (1). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing major. Corequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. This course provides the application component of NUR 3065. Under the guidance of lab instructors, the student is given opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge from NUR 3065 in practice sessions using demonstration; low, medium, and high fidelity simulation scenarios; deliberate practice; debriefing; and reflective instructional approaches.
NUR 3125. Pathophysiological Concepts in Nursing (4). Prerequisite: BSC 2085 (C or better) and BSC 2086 (C or better). This course introduces the undergraduate nursing student to general body responses and alterations in disease across the lifespan. Topics cover physiological concepts, alterations in body systems, and clinical manifestations.
NUR 3145. Pharmacological Concepts in Nursing (2). Prerequisite: Admission to the Nursing major. Corequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. This course introduces the nursing student to foundational concepts in pharmacology and their application in health care settings. Pharmacological concepts include pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics, drug toxicity, and major drug classifications. Application concepts include drug therapy and patient safety, the role of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), dosage calculation, and the nursing role in drug therapy.
NUR 3225. Nursing Care of the Adult with Acute and Chronic Health Disorders (3). Prerequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. Corequisite: Semester II Nursing courses. This course focuses on nursing care of adults and their families with acute and chronic health disorders. Pathophysiologic, psychological, and sociocultural processes and environmental issues associated with acute and chronic health disorders in adults are presented. Critical reasoning and problem solving skills are used in designing care to promote positive health outcomes.
NUR 3225L. Nursing Care of the Adult with Acute and Chronic Health Disorders Lab (3). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. Corequisite: Semester II Nursing courses. This course provides the application component of NUR 3225. Under the guidance of clinical instructors, the student is given opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge from NUR 3225 in both simulated and clinical sessions. Deliberate practice, debriefing, and reflective instructional approaches are used in both settings.
NUR 3678. Nursing Care of Vulnerable Populations (4). Prerequisites: NUR 3056C, NUR 3065C, NUR 3125, and NUR 3822. Corequisite: NUR 3636L. This course examines the application of nursing and related theories to the care of vulnerable populations throughout the life cycle. Emphasis is placed on nursing care of the elderly, clients with psychosocial disorders, and at-risk culturally diverse populations in the community. The impact of poverty, environment, support networks, health policy, and community resources on vulnerable populations and health outcomes is explored. The focus is on promoting client independence and maximizing quality of life of vulnerable individuals, families and communities.
NUR 3678L. Nursing Care of Vulnerable Populations Lab (3). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisites: NUR 3056C, NUR 3065C, NUR 3125, and NUR 3822. Corequisite: NUR 3636L. This course provides the application component of NUR 3678. Under the guidance of clinical instructors, the student is given opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge from NUR 3678 in clinical sessions. Emphasis is placed on nursing care of the elderly, clients with psychosocial disorders, and at risk culturally diverse populations in the community. The impact of poverty, environment, support networks, health policy, and community resources on vulnerable populations and health outcomes is explored. The focus is on promoting client's independence and maximizing quality of life of vulnerable individuals, families, and communities.
NUR 3695. Disaster Nursing (3). This course introduces the student to comprehensive and current disaster nursing information. Acquiring knowledge and developing skills needed for responses to different types of disasters or public health emergencies. Essential aspects of disaster planning, management, triage, and recovery as well as relevant disaster recovery issues related to disaster recovery, including legal, ethical, and psycho-social considerations. Healthy People/WHO indicators will be used in evidence-based decision making, and public health tools such as epidemiology and bio-statistics will be reinforced during the process of community assessment.
NUR 3816. Professional Perspectives in Nursing (2). Prerequisite: Semester I Nursing courses. Corequisite: Semester II Nursing courses. This course introduces the student to the historical and theoretical perspectives that have impacted the development of nursing. The progression of nursing toward professionalism is explored, including foundational concepts such as ethics, advocacy, and legal issues.
NUR 4169. Evidence-Based Nursing (2). This course introduces students to major systematic approaches to the development and improvement of nursing practice including evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research.
NUR 4445. Nursing Care of Women, Children, and Families (4). Prerequisites: Semester I and II Nursing courses. Corequisites: Semester III Nursing courses. This course focuses on individuals and their families during the childbearing and childrearing phases of family development. Physiologic, psychological, sociocultural, and pathophysiologic processes and environmental issues associated with childbearing and childrearing are presented. The nurse's role in health promotion is emphasized. Illness and complications are examined. Issues related to preserving, promoting, and restoring health status of family members are emphasized. The application of competencies and skills may occur in a simulated setting.
NUR 4555L. Nursing Care of Women, Children and Families Lab (3). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisites: Traditional BSN Prerequisites: NUR 3225, NUR 3225L, NUR 3678, NUR 3678L, NUR 3816. Traditional BSN Corequisites: NUR 4445, NUR 4766, NUR 4766L, NUR 4169. Accelerated BSN Prerequisites: NUR 3056, NUR 3056L, NUR 3065, NUR 3065L, NUR 3026L, NUR 3145, NUR 3816, NUR 4169, NUR 4667. Accelerated BSN Corequisites: NUR 3225L, NUR 4445, NUR 3678. This course provides the application component of NUR 4445. Under the guidance of clinical instructors, the student is given opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge from NUR 4445 in both simulated and clinical sessions. Deliberate practice, debriefing, and reflective instructional approaches are used in both settings.
NUR 4667. Population Health in Nursing (1). Prerequisites: NUR 4169, NUR 4445, NUR 4555L, NUR 4766, and NUR 4766L. Corequisites: NUR 4837C and NUR 4945. This course introduces students to global health; the U.S. healthcare system; the social determinants of health; environmental health; emerging infectious disease; disaster planning and population support during disasters; and other mass-casualty situations. Students use Healthy People/WHO indicators in evidence-based decision making and utilizing the process of community assessment.
NUR 4766. Nursing Care of Adults and Populations with Complex Health Disorders (4). Prerequisites: NUR 3056C, NUR 3065C, NUR 3125, NUR 3225C, NUR 3636L, NUR 3678, NUR 3822, and NUR 4445C. This course focuses on the nursing management of adults and their families in acute care and appropriate community care settings. Critical reasoning and problem solving skills are used to address safe intervention and evaluation outcomes appropriate to the health care needs of adults and families experiencing complex health disorders. The course includes content on the triage of care of patients during events that result in widespread illness or mass casualties.
NUR 4766L. Nursing Care of Adults/Populations with Complex Health Disorders Lab (3). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisites: Semester I and II Nursing courses. Corequisite: NUR 4766. This laboratory course focuses on the application of the nursing process, concepts, principles, and technological competencies while providing nursing interventions to adults and their families experiencing complex and multi-system health disorders. Effectiveness of nursing interventions and expected outcomes are evaluated. The application of competencies and skills may occur in a simulated setting.
NUR 4828. Transition to Nursing Practice (1). Prerequisites: NUR 4445, NUR 4555L, NUR 4766, and NUR 4766L. Corequisites: NUR 4888, NUR 4888L, and NUR 4945. This course explores the multiple roles and opportunities for the professional registered nurse. Topics related to practice issues are addressed. Strategies for transition from academia to practice environments are analyzed and include the development of a personal career plan.
NUR 4837C. Nursing Leadership in Systems of Care (3). Prerequisites: NUR 4169, NUR 4445, NUR 4555L, NUR4766, NUR4766L. Corequisites NUR 4667, NUR 4945. This course focuses on concepts, principles, and theories of leadership, management, role development and administration in a variety of settings. This course emphasizes skill development for the nurse leader and includes delegation, collaboration, budgeting, cost effectiveness and resource allocation, risk management, quality, and performance indicators.
NUR 4888. Nursing Leadership in Systems of Care (3). Prerequisites: Semester I, II, and III Nursing courses. Corequisites: Semester IV Nursing courses. This course focuses on concepts, principles, and theories of leadership, management, role development and administration in a variety of culturally diverse health care delivery systems at local, regional, national, and global levels. Skills required by the professional nurse leader, including delegation of responsibilities, networking, facilitation of groups, conflict resolution, case management, collaboration, budgeting, cost effectiveness and resource allocation, risk management, quality and performance indicators, teaching, and professional development are emphasized and applied in relevant settings.
NUR 4888L. Nursing Leadership in Systems of Care Lab (2). (S/U grade only). Prerequisites: Semester I, II, III Nursing courses. Corequisites: Semester IV Nursing courses. This course provides the application component of NUR 4888. Under the guidance of clinical instructors, the student is given opportunities to integrate theoretical knowledge from NUR 4888 in clinical sessions. Deliberate practice, debriefing, and reflective instruction approaches are used. Skills required by the professional nurse leader, including delegation of responsibilities, networking, facilitation of groups, conflict resolution, case management, collaboration, budgeting, cost effectiveness and resource allocation, risk management, quality and performance indicators, teaching and professional development are emphasized and applied in relevant settings.
NUR 4945. Professional Nursing Internship (6). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisites: NUR 3056, NUR 3056L, NUR 3065, NUR 3065L, NUR 3125, NUR 3145, NUR 3816, NUR 3225, NUR 3225L, NUR 3678, NUR 3678L, NUR 4169, NUR 4766, NUR 4766L, NUR 4445, NUR 4445L. Corequisites: NUR 4888, NUR 4888L, NUR 4667, NUR 4828. This course occurs following the completion of all required nursing courses. This capstone clinical experience requires the student to demonstrate competencies consistent with program outcomes. Synthesis of core values, core competencies, core knowledge, cultural humility, and role development is expected. The student collaborates with the faculty and the preceptor in choosing the care setting as well as planning and organizing the learning experience to facilitate a successful transition into the profession.
NUR 4946L. Nursing Care in Specialty Areas Laboratory (1–6). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Completion of the second semester in the Nursing Program. This course provides internships in specialized areas of clinical practice with a focus on managing patient care in selected areas such as surgery, special procedure areas, endoscopy, dialysis, or PACU.
Electives
NSP 3185. Multicultural Factors and Health (3). This course is a comparative analytical approach to the study of communication, current problems, issues, health care beliefs, values, and practices of different systems and cultural norms as they affect health care practices that conflict with ethnic or cultural communication related to standards and value systems.
NSP 3425. Women's Health Issues: Concerns Through the Life Cycle (3). This course focuses on issues related to women throughout the life cycle including sexuality, obesity, anorexia, cancer, etc. Emphasis is on prevention of illness and rights to health care access.
NSP 3685. Grief, Loss, and Trauma: Ethnic and Individual Variations (3). This course explores similarities and differences among cultures when responding to grief and loss. Topics related to diverse populations and grief practices are examined, as well as personal response to grief, loss, and trauma; not exclusively utilizing death as the only example of loss, or trauma. The course allows students to expand their reactions to life and death, plan their own funeral, and at the same time focus on family, community, and worldwide populations.
NUR 3076. Communication in Health Care (3). Prerequisite: ENC 1101. This course examines various communication patterns basic to individual and group relationships. Course emphasizes the development of interactive skills paramount to effective communication with individuals and groups involved with health care issues. It provides an opportunity for the validation of oral communication and a range of public speaking experiences especially related to health care.
NUR 3177. Holistic and Complementary Approaches to Health and Healing (3). This course is designed to explore knowledge of practices that promote health and well-being. Emphasis is on stress management and body-mind-spirit communication. A variety of holistic and complementary approaches to health and healing are explored.
NUR 4905r. Directed Individual Study (1–4). May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
NUR 4930r. Special Topics (1–3). This course consists of topics of interest relating to nursing and other health-related issues. May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
NUR 4931Lr. Special Topics Lab (2–4). (S/U grade only.) This course focuses on perioperative nursing clinical practice with experiences in managing patients through multiple phases of perioperative nursing. These phases include: pre-operative intra-operative, and post-operative nursing care. The course focuses on the knowledge and skills associated with caring for surgical patients. May be repeated to a maximum of eight semester hours.
NUR 4975r. Honors Thesis (1–6). May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
For listings relating to graduate coursework, consult the Graduate Bulletin.