Nursing
| Degrees: | Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Registered Nurse/Bachelor of Science in Nursing (R.N./B.S.N.) |
| Major: | Nursing |
| Department: | School of Nursing Building 37 850-473-7756 http://uwf.edu/nursing |
| College: | Usha Kundu, MD College of Health |
| CIP Code: | 51.3801 |
| Semester Hours Required For Degree: 120 | |
The B.S.N. prepares students to become clinical generalists who are leaders, managers, and life-long learners who integrate research findings into their nursing practice. The nursing graduate will be capable of using the nursing process to care for clients of diverse backgrounds and ages in a variety of healthcare settings. The program refines clinical skills, stimulates student awareness of research applications, facilitates the practice of active inquiry, fosters the ability to think and respond critically, and promotes the desire for advanced study. This program provides a service to the healthcare community by increasing the number of nurses who practice professional nursing. The program also serves the population's health needs by providing quality nursing care.
This is a specialized admissions program and acceptance to the University does not constitute admission to the upper-division nursing program. A separate application must be made to the School of Nursing. Students in the Pre-BSN must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA after earning 24 credit hours to remain in the Pre-BSN major.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University's general admission requirements as described in the Undergraduate Admissions section of the catalog, students seeking admission to the B.S.N. program must meet the following additional requirements at the time of application:
- Minimum overall GPA 3.0 on 4.0 scale
- Minimum score of 75% on TEAS entrance exam
- Completed all General Education requirements including foreign language
- Completed all Nursing common prerequisites with a grade of "C" or better
- Documentation of required Nursing Program immunizations
Evening/Weekend Offering: This offering is prioritized for current employees at a healthcare facility. In addition to the admission requirements listed above, the student must submit proof of sustained employment for the past year or more. A signed letter from the health care employer (i.e. direct supervisor or human resources) on company letterhead is required endorsing support for the student to be admitted.
There will be three admissions per year for the Traditional BSN program track, including the evening/weekend offering. Dates for admission are posted on the School of Nursing website.
Upon admission, the B.S.N. student will receive information concerning current UWF Nursing requirements for enrollment. These include, but may not be limited to: student health physical examination; hospital required immunizations; Level 2 criminal background check; VECHS fingerprinting; AHA BCLS certification; and drug screen.
Degree Requirements
A minimum grade of "C" is required in all major courses and Nursing common prerequisites.
Progression
The following requirements must be met to remain and progress in the Pre Licensure Traditional B.S.N. program track:
- Course grades of "C" (75%) or higher in graded nursing courses, and satisfactory ("S") grades in nursing clinical (laboratory) courses, are required to remain in the program.
- A student may only have one nursing course grade below "C" (75%) or one clinical (laboratory) course of Unsatisfactory ("U") to be eligible for readmission.
- Withdrawing from a nursing course is considered the same as receiving below a "C" (75%) in a graded course or an Unsatisfactory ("U") in a clinical (laboratory) course and requires an application for readmission to the B.S.N. program. Students who withdraw from 2 or more courses may not be eligible for readmission.
- If readmitted to the nursing program, students may repeat a nursing course (including clinical) one time only and must successfully pass the course on the second attempt to remain in the program.
- Students who receive less than a passing grade of "C" (75%) in a nursing course or an Unsatisfactory ("U") in a clinical (laboratory) course will receive academic advising to develop an individualized revised academic plan of study.
- Students repeating a nursing clinical course must also repeat the nursing course component. Conversely, if the student is repeating a nursing course, the associated nursing clinical/laboratory course must be repeated also.
- Due to the critical nature of remediation with regard to NCLEX scores, students are required to complete all assigned remediation following ATI mastery exams as well as assigned ATI mastery exam retakes in order to progress in the program.
Program Dismissal
Failure to maintain the academic and professional standards specified in the pre-licensure Traditional B.S.N. student handbook may result in dismissal from the nursing program.
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Multicultural, and Foreign Language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the State University Requirements section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
BSN majors should take MAC 1105 College Algebra or MAC 1105C College Algebra with Lab or MGF 1130 Mathematical Thinking and STA 2023 Elements of Statistics to satisfy the mathematics component, SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology to satisfy the socio-political perspectives, DEP 2004 Human Development Across the Lifespan to meet the behavioral perspective, and the science courses identified in the common prerequisites to meet the General Education science requirements.
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041 ) |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041) |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006 and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3 |
| or MAC 1105C | College Algebra with Lab | |
| or MAC 1114 | Trigonometry | |
| or MAC 1140 | Precalculus Algebra | |
| or MAC 1147 | Precalculus with Trigonometry | |
| or MAC 2311 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | |
| or MAC 2233 | Calculus with Business Applications | |
| or MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | |
| or MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | |
| or MGF 1131 | Mathematics in Context | |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
NOTE: If accepted to the nursing program, nursing common prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the nursing program coursework. Grades under a pass/fail (P/F) option will not be accepted for the nursing common prerequisites.
| DEP 2004 | Human Development Across the Lifespan * | 3 |
| HUN 2201 | Fundamentals of Human Nutrition | 3 |
| MCB 1000+L | Fundamentals of Microbiology (+Lab) * | 4 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics * | 3 |
| One science course from the following prefixes: CHM, BSC, BCH, PCB, PHY * | 3 | |
| One social science course from the following prefixes: PSY, SOP, SYG * | 3 | |
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| BSC 1086+L | Anatomy and Physiology II (+Lab) * | 4 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Lower Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to complete at least 60 semester hours in the lower division. Current UWF students may use elective courses at any level (1000-4000) to meet this elective requirement. | 0-15 | |
| Total Hours | 0-15 | |
Highly recommended electives include: HSC 3535 Medical Terminology, PSY 2012 General Psychology, and HSC 3555 Pathophysiology.
Major
| NUR 3026 | Person Centered Care I + | 3 |
| NUR 3026L | Person Centered Care I Lab + | 3 |
| NUR 3138 | Health Assessment and Promotion in Nursing Practice + | 3 |
| NUR 3095 | Introduction to Pharmacology + | 3 |
| NUR 3805 | Professional Nursing Practice + | 2 |
| NUR 3215 | Person Centered Care II + | 3 |
| NUR 3215L | Person Centered Care II Lab + | 3 |
| NUR 3505 | Mental Health Nursing + | 3 |
| NUR 3505L | Mental Health Nursing Lab + | 2 |
| NUR 3125 | Pathophysiology for Nurses + | 3 |
| NUR 4216 | Person Centered Care III + | 4 |
| NUR 4216L | Person Centered Care III Lab + | 3 |
| NUR 4445 | Person Centered Care of Families + | 3 |
| NUR 4445L | Person Centered Care of Families Lab + | 2 |
| NUR 4169 | Integration of Evidence in Professional Nursing Practice + | 2 |
| NUR 4257 | Person Centered Care IV + | 4 |
| NUR 4257L | Person Centered Care IV Lab + | 4 |
| NUR 4615 | Person Centered Population Health + | 3 |
| NUR 4636L | Patient Centered Population Health Lab + | 2 |
| NUR 4827 | Leadership in Nursing + | 3 |
| NUR 3871 | Healthcare Informatics + | 2 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA.
Graduation Requirement
All students must pass an ATI program exit exam during NUR 4257 to qualify for graduation and the RN licensing exam.
Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Track
The Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) track is designed for those students who have already completed the RN program at a community college. This program track is offered via distance learning format and coursework is 100% online with guided clinical practice activities within the RN students' local community.
The curriculum for the RN to BSN Nursing program track incorporates adult learning theory that builds on previous nursing education to promote development of strong professional level skills and a broader scope of practice. The graduate will demonstrate a higher competency in evidence-based nursing practice, communication, leadership, professional integration, and highly reliable care. Graduates are prepared to manage and coordinate chronic diseases in the community for at-risk populations. Graduates will demonstrate a commitment to the profession and self through the desire for advanced study.
Potential students must complete the common prerequisites for nursing with a grade of "C" or better and either:
- Completed or "in progress" to complete the General Education requirements at the University of West Florida; or
- Earned an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida public institution; or
- Earned the equivalent from another college or university
Acceptance to the University does not constitute admission to the upper-division nursing program. A separate departmental application must be made to the program; deadlines and the online application for the fall, spring, and summer terms are available on the RN-BSN webpage.
State tuition waivers may be utilized in this program.
Not all states authorize online programs, if you are residing outside of Florida you will want to check the status of your state's acceptance of this program: UWF State Authorization Status.
This program will not meet immigration requirements for students holding an F1 or J1 Visa to maintain status. Contact International Affairs for further information.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the University’s general admission requirements as described in the Undergraduate Admissions section of the catalog, students seeking the B.S.N. must meet the following additional requirements at the time of application:
- Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree from a community college.
- Complete the common prerequisites for nursing with a grade of "C" or better.
- STA 2023 Elements of Statistics completed with a minimum grade of "C."
- No more than 12 hours of non-major coursework outstanding.
- Student will maintain a current unencumbered United States RN license in the state(s) student is a resident while completing any portion of the nursing coursework.
- Military spouses holding a valid U.S. registered nursing license and stationed at an overseas U.S. base may be considered for admission.
-
If requested, satisfactory completion of Level 2 criminal background check, VECHS fingerprint, and drug screen through the selected provider.
Progression in the BSN Program
-
Students in the RN to BSN program are admitted in cohorts to assure that courses will be offered in the sequence and semesters needed to complete a Program of Study (POS) in a timely manner. Students may progress on a full-time or part-time basis, but all BSN degree requirements are expected to be completed within 3 years of admission. Should a student need to alter their plan of study, contact with the program advisor is necessary to ensure the student's eligibility through educational records and academic standings as well as space availability in the courses.
-
Students are required to maintain a minimal grade point level of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all RN to BSN nursing courses.
-
Students must maintain a “C” or better in each course in order to progress in the program. Course progression in the RN to BSN track after the second grade below a “C” (73%) is not permitted as this is a limited access program with increased rigor.
-
Students may repeat the same nursing course only once, and on a space-available basis.
-
Students are allowed to repeat only two different nursing courses to progress within the program. Students with a grade below “C” (73%) in a nursing course at midterm will be issued a letter of warning of their academic standing via UWF email.
-
The faculty of the School of Nursing reserves the right to retain only those students who satisfy the requirements of scholarship and adhere to behaviors that conform to the Florida Nurse Practice Act.
-
Students admitted to the program agree to comply with the understanding that if at any time during the course of their participation in the RN to BSN program track that they are either arrested, charged, or convicted, that the student understands and agrees that they must disclose such an event to the School of Nursing Director in writing no later than 48 hours after such an event. This is to be disclosed regardless of the nature or the seriousness of the offense for which the student is arrested, charged, or convicted. Failure to do so may result in student dismissal from the program.
Degree Requirements
Students earning a B.S.N. must complete all University General Education and Foreign Language requirements prior to the final semester of coursework in the RN to BSN Nursing major. It is strongly recommended that all 8 courses which comprise the 'Florida Nursing Common Pre-requisites' be completed prior to entry into the major coursework in order to facilitate timely progression through the program coursework. STA 2023 Elements of Statistics must be completed prior to admission into the nursing major.
A minimum grade of "C" is required in all major and major-related courses.
General Education
In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the College-Level Communication and Computation, Multicultural, and Foreign Language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the State University Requirements section of this catalog.
General Education Curriculum:
Multicultural Requirement
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and an exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
| Students Included in Cohort | Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
| Cohort 1: Students first entering the SUS or FCS prior to fall 2018 | None |
| Cohort 2: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in fall 2018 – summer A 2021 | Complete a course or exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041 ) |
| Cohort 3: Students first entering the SUS or FCS in summer B 2021 (on or after July 1, 2021) and thereafter | Complete both a course and exam (course options AMH 2020, POS 2041) |
Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.
There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan.
Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website, SUS regulation BOG 8.006 and Florida Statute s.1007.25(4,a-b).
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals. Students should refer to their academic advisor for questions about the math pathway for their program. For information about this requirement, refer to the catalog page for Mathematics Pathways. These courses may also fulfill requirements for General Education and Common Prerequisites.
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| MAC 1105 | College Algebra | 3-4 |
| or MAC 1105C | College Algebra with Lab | |
| or MAC 1114 | Trigonometry | |
| or MAC 1140 | Precalculus Algebra | |
| or MAC 1147 | Precalculus with Trigonometry | |
| or MAC 2311 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | |
| or MAC 2233 | Calculus with Business Applications | |
| or MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | |
| or MGF 1130 | Mathematical Thinking | |
| or MGF 1131 | Mathematics in Context | |
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.
NOTE: Nursing common prerequisites must be completed prior to admission into the RN to BSN Nursing major coursework.
| BSC 1085+L | Anatomy and Physiology I (+Lab) * | 4 |
| BSC 1086+L | Anatomy and Physiology II (+Lab) * | 4 |
| DEP 2004 | Human Development Across the Lifespan * | 3 |
| HUN 2201 | Fundamentals of Human Nutrition | 3 |
| MCB 1000+L | Fundamentals of Microbiology (+Lab) * | 4 |
| STA 2023 | Elements of Statistics * | 3 |
| One science course from the following prefixes: CHM, BSC, BCH, PCB, PHY * | 3 | |
| One social science course from the following prefixes: PSY, SOP, SYG * | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
- *
Indicates common prerequisites which can be used to satisfy General Education requirements.
Major
| NUR 3067 | Health Assessment and Promotion + | 3 |
| NUR 3081 | Professional Nursing Practice + | 3 |
| NUR 3145 | Pharmacology + | 3 |
| NUR 4165 | Essentials of Evidence-Based Nursing Practice + | 3 |
| NUR 4286 | Concepts of Quality and Safety in Nursing + | 3 |
| NUR 4636 | Epidemiology and Population Health Strategies + | 3 |
| NUR 4828 | Systems Innovation and Change Agents in Healthcare + | 3 |
| NUR 4895 | Evidence-Based Population Health Practice + | 3 |
| NUR 4125 | Pathophysiology + | 3 |
| NUR 4826 | Transformational Nursing Leadership + | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- +
Courses included in the major GPA
Upper Division Electives
| Students must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet UWF’s requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division or complete all departmental requirements at the 3000/4000 level, whichever is greater. | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
For students with an AS degree in Nursing from an accredited program, up to 18 semester hours (sh) of Associate in Science nursing courses will be validated for upper-level credit based upon RN licensure and successful completion of the major courses in the program.
A limited amount of upper-division nursing coursework may be accepted as transfer credit in the major coursework upon an approved review of syllabus from an ACEN or CCNE accredited program. Graduation requirements stipulate a student must earn a minimum of 30 hours of coursework through the University of West Florida.