Return to: Schools and Colleges

The Florida A&M University School of Nursing was founded in 1904 and became the first baccalaureate nursing program in Florida. The undergraduate degree program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing. Both the baccalaureate and master’s programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The ACEN’s address and telephone number are 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, (404) 975-5000.

SCHOOL OF NURSING NEW MISSION STATEMENT

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is an 1890 land-grant institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, resolution of complex issues and the empowerment of citizens and communities.  The University provides a student-centered environment consistent with its core values.  The faculty is committed to educating students at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional levels, preparing graduates to apply their knowledge, critical thinking skills and creativity in their service to society.  FAMU’s distinction as a doctoral/research institution will continue to provide mechanisms to address emerging issues through local and global partnerships.  Expanding upon the University’s land-grant status, it will enhance the lives of constituents through innovative research, engaging cooperative extension, and public service.  While the University continues its historic mission of educating African Americans, FAMU embraces persons of all races, ethnic origins and nationalities as life-long members of the university community.

Undergraduate Program

Upon completion of the undergraduate program, the graduate will be able to:

1.  Use a variety of communication and collaborative techniques to engage in intra- and inter-professional teams in ways that respect the values, ethics and practice standards of all members and ensure the delivery of safe, quality care.
2. Apply critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills to deliver safe, quality care within the health care system and to advance the nursing profession.
3. Implement a variety of strategies to meet the needs of diverse populations that are respectful of and responsive to their cultural norms and practices, as well as their strengths and vulnerabilities.
4. Apply leadership and management concepts and skills to influence systems and policies in order to ensure safe, quality patient care and healthful practice environments.
5. Provide safe, quality, patient-centered care to optimize the functioning of culturally-diverse populations within the context of a dynamic health care system.
6. Enact a professional identity that reflects a commitment to ethical practice and lifelong learning.
7. Engage in scholarly practice by critiquing research, using available evidence, and exhibiting a spirit of inquiry in the delivery of safe, quality, patient-centered care.
8. Use appropriate technologies to promote positive health outcomes and to deliver safe, quality care in the health care system.

Baccalaureate Degree: Generic Program

The School of Nursing offers a professional level major in nursing that leads to a bachelor of science degree. The curriculum plan is designed in two phases: (1) pre-professional and (2) professional. Students may complete pre-professional requirements at a state college, community college, or another university.

Admission Requirements:

1. Pre-Professional
   1. Admission to the university is within the purview of the office of admissions.
   2. The length of time in the pre-professional level will vary with the educational background of the student. The student must complete pre-professional requirements before admission to the professional level.
   3. Admission to Florida A&M University does not automatically admit one to the School of Nursing. The school, due to clinical limitations, is a limited access program.
   4. See the catalog’s Special Admissions’ section for additional information.
   5. Students seeking admission to the professional level must apply and be accepted to FAMU and satisfy all general education, Gordon Rule and foreign language requirements

2. Professional

   All applicants must meet the following requirements stated under the School of Nursing admission criteria:

   1. Must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale.

   2. Must have completed all pre-professional (prerequisite) Nursing courses with a grade of “B” or better.  The student must meet the minimum letter grade requirement on the first attempt. Repeated attempts for math, science, and nutrition courses will not be considered.  Exception: The student will be allowed one repeated attempt for any other prerequisite course.  The student must meet the minimum letter grade requirement on the first attempt.

   3. Must submit completed School of Nursing application and all other specified information by May 1st - 15th for Fall Semester admission or October 1st - 15th for Spring Semester admission (see the School of Nursing application checklist on the School of Nursing’s website for details). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

   4. Must have received a Level 2 Proficiency on the required Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS).  Register at:  https://www.atitesting.com/teas/register

   5. Must provide one passport photograph.

   6. Must submit 3 references, two from instructors from previous college courses and one from an employer or a personal reference.

   7. Must present appropriate documentation of medical history, physical examination, tuberculosis test and/or chest X-ray, and influenza vaccine. A state or military certificate of immunization status documenting immunity for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B (HBV), Varicella (Var), and diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) or tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) is required. If certification of immunization is not available, a titer is required.

A personal interview or pre-entrance screening may be required.

The school, due to clinical limitations, is a limited access program. Admission is determined by the availability of space, not the size of the applicant pool. Therefore, satisfaction of all requirements does not automatically lead to admission to the professional level.

Note: Foreign language requirements: Students who have not completed two years of the same foreign language or American Sign Language in high school must complete eight semester hours in the same foreign language prior to admission to the School of Nursing.

Progression, Retention, and Graduation

1. Academic
   1. It is expected that all students are familiar with progression, retention, and graduation requirements.
   2. All courses at the professional level must be completed with a grade of “C” or above. 
   3. Completion of all courses with a minimum grade of “C” is a prerequisite for progression to the next semester’s courses.
   4. Two course failures (i.e. D or F grades) will result in dismissal from the School of Nursing (SON). Neither a retroactive university withdrawal nor a university grade forgiveness invalidates a nursing course failure (i.e. D or F).
   5. NUR 4828 Professional Career Development Seminar will be graded S-U and must be passed with a grade of “S”.  In order to receive “S”, the NUR 4828 Senior Proficiency Examination must be passed with a minimum of a ninetieth (90th) percent probability of passing the NCLEX-RN on the ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam.  In addition, every course requirement must be satisfactorily completed in order to earn the course grade of “S”.  Two “U” grades in NUR 4828 will result in dismissal from the SON.  Neither a retroactive university withdrawal nor a university grade forgiveness invalidates a “U” grade. 
   6. GPA must remain at a cumulative 2.00 or above.
   7. Inappropriate behavior will be addressed as described in the university student handbook (The FANG) and/or the School of Nursing handbook
   8. The School of Nursing adheres to all general requirements and procedures of the University for graduation.
   9. A nursing student may order the school’s pin during the last semester of the senior year. The pin is awarded after successful completion of the nursing program.

2. Clinical

After admission is granted to the professional level, applicants must submit evidence of:

A.  Annual documentation of tuberculosis test and/or chest X-ray, and influenza vaccine.

B.   Changes in health status and relevant medical clearance each semester.

C.   Current health care coverage.

D.  Current BCLS CPR certification.

E.   Local and Level II Background Check and a lab controlled drug screen (prior to clinical and upon request)

1. Students who receive a flagged positive background check or drug screening report may not be able to participate in required clinical rotations and may be unable to progress in the program.

2. Students with a  positive drug screen will have their admission into the Nursing program rescinded.

Clinical Activities

A variety of health care and educational agencies, located primarily in the Tallahassee-Leon County area, cooperate with the School of Nursing in providing clinical experiences for students. Included are primary, secondary, and tertiary care settings. Some clinical experiences may occur away from the university site in Tallahassee. Each student is expected to assume responsibility for all costs associated with clinical experiences.

The students wear the approved nursing uniforms during clinical experiences. Approximate cost of the uniform is $500. The uniform is ordered after acceptance to the professional level. Liability insurance is provided by the university upon admission of student to the professional level.

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

• Nursing, BSN  
• RN-BSN, BSN  

Master’s Degree

• Nursing, AGPCNP and WHNP Full-Time, MSN  
• Nursing, AGPCNP and WHNP Part-Time, MSN  

Certification

• Post-Master’s Certificate, APN Applicant  
• Post-Master’s Certificate, Non-APN Applicant  

Courses

• NUR 3138 Promoting and Maintaining Wellness (3)  
• NUR 3145 Pharmacology for Nursing (3)  
• NUR 3169 Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Care (2)  
• NUR 3326 Nursing Care of the Adult Client (3)  
• NUR 3326L Nursing Care of the Adult Client: Clinical (3)  
• NUR 3431 Care of Women and the Childbearing Family (3)  
• NUR 3431L Care of Women and the Childbearing Family: Clinical (2)  
• NUR 3505 Promoting Mental Health of Self and Others (3)  
• NUR 3505L Promoting Mental Health of Self and Others: Clinical (2)   
• NUR 3825 Professional Nursing Concepts (3)  
• NUR 3905 Directed Individual Study (1-6)  
• NUR 4267 Advanced Nursing Care of the Adult Client (3)  
• NUR 4267L Advanced Nursing Care of the Adult Client: Clinical (3)  
• NUR 4358 Nursing Care of Children and their Families (3)  
• NUR 4358L Nursing Care of Children and their Families: Clinical (3)  
• NUR 4671 Promoting the Health of Populations (3)  
• NUR 4671L Promoting the Health of Populations: Clinical (2)  
• NUR 4827E Leading and Managing In Complex Health Systems (3)  
• NUR 4828 Professional Career Development Seminar (2)  
• NUR 4948L Professional Transition Practicum (2)  

Nursing Grad

• NGR 5003C Advanced Health Assessment Theory (3)  
• NGR 5003CDL Advanced Health Assessment Theory (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 5003L Advanced Health Assessment Practicum (1)  
• NGR 5003L-DL Advanced Health Assessment Practicum (ON-LINE) (1)  
• NGR 5110 Theories In Nursing (2)  
• NGR 5110-DL Theories In Nursing (ON-LINE) (2)  
• NGR 5141 Advanced Pathophysiology (3)  
• NGR 5141DL Advanced Pathophysiology (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 5172 Advanced Pharmacology (3)  
• NGR 5172DL Advanced Pharmacology (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 5209 Clinical Mgmt Of Older Adults (3)  
• NGR 5209DL Clinical Mgmt Of Older Adults (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 5742 Role APN Health Prom & Dis Prevention (3)  
• NGR 5742DL Role APN Health Prom & Dis Prevention (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 5810 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice (3)  
• NGR 5810DL Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 5905 Directed Individual Study (1-6)  
• NGR 6201 Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span I (3)  
• NGR 6201DL Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span I (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 6201L Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span Practicum I (4)  
• NGR 6201L-DL Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span Practicum I (ON-LINE) (4)  
• NGR 6202 Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span II (3)  
• NGR 6202DL Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span II (ON-LINE) (3)  
• NGR 6202L Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span Practicum II (4)  
• NGR 6202L-DL Primary Care For Adults Across The Life Span Practicum II (ON-LINE) (4)  
• NGR 6291 Special Issues Across Adult Life Span (2)  
• NGR 6291DL Special Issues Across Adult Life Span (ON-LINE) (2)  
• NGR 6700 APRN Synthesis Seminar (2)  
• NGR 6700DL APRN Synthesis Seminar (ON-LINE) (2)  
• NGR 6740 Professional Role Development (1)  
• NGR 6740DL Professional Role Development (ON-LINE) (1)  
• NGR 6891 Health Policy and Nursing (2)  
• NGR 6891DL Health Policy and Nursing (ON-LINE) (2)  

Return to: Schools and Colleges