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.

The mission of the School of Nursing is to:

1. Educate men and women to function as generalists at the undergraduate level and as specialists at the master’s level in professional nursing;
2. Provide a supportive environment to foster research by faculty and students;
3. Be responsive to the service needs of the 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.

Faculty

Professors: Earp, Jaibun K; Graham, Mary E.
Associate Professors: Marshall, Janet G.; Norman, Ruena W., Onubogu, Uloma D.
Assistant Professors: Bronson, Sevilla; Daniels, Sheena, Phillips, Carswella; Gardner, Lisa
Instructors: Adams, Shawanna: Bryant, Brenda; Butler, Robin; Darity, Donna M.; Guthrie, David; Lawson, Delores B.

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. Obtain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, for all coursework attempted.

   2. Complete all general education and science courses required by the School of Nursing.

   3. Earn a grade of “C” or above in all required pre-professional courses.

   4. Submit completed School of Nursing application and all other specified information by May 15 if applying for August admission; October 15 for January admission (see the School of Nursing application checklist on the School of Nursing’s website for details). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

   5. Provide one passport photograph.

   6. Submit 3 letters of recommendation; two from instructors from previous college courses and one from an employer or a personal reference.

   7. Present appropriate documentation of medical history, physical examination, labs (CBC and urinalysis), and tuberculosis test and/or chest X-ray. 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. In addition, Final Cumulative Examinations must be passed with a grade of “C” (70) or above at the end of each theory course.
   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. Neither a retroactive university withdrawal nor a university grade forgiveness invalidates a nursing course failure (i.e. D or F).
   5. NUR 4948L Professional Transition Practicum will be graded S-U and must be passed with a grade of “S”.  In order to receive “S”, the NUR 4948L Senior Proficiency Examination must be passed with a minimum of a ninetieth (90th) percent probability of passing the NCLEX-RN.  In addition, every course requirement must be satisfactorily completed in order to earn the course grade of “S”.  Two “U” grades in NUR 4948L will result in dismissal from the SON.  Neither a retroactive University withdrawal nor a University grade forgiveness invalidates a “U” grade.
   6. If a student enrolls in NUR 4948L Professional Transition Practicum, having already earned a previous grade of “D” or “F” (failure) in NUR 4935, and earns a “U” (failure) in NUR 4948L, that student will be permanently dismissed from the SON.  Neither a retroactive university withdrawal nor a university grade forgiveness will invalidate this policy.
   7. GPA must remain at a cumulative 2.00 or above.
   8. A student may be requested to withdraw from a course or the program by reason of poor academic performance and/or inappropriate behavior as described in the university student handbook (FANG) and/or the School of Nursing handbook.
   9. The School of Nursing adheres to all general requirements and procedures of the university for graduation.
   10. 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:

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

A.  Annual documentation of medical history, physical examination, labs (CBC, chemistry panel, and urinalysis), and tuberculosis test and/or chest X-ray.

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

C.   Current health care coverage (recommended).

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 flagged drug screen will be required to participate in the intervention program for nurses (The student is responsible for all associated costs.).

Failure to provide all required documentation may prevent students from being cleared for clinical.

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 laboratory 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.

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Programs

• Nursing, BSN
• RN-BSN, BSN

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

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

Courses

• NGR 6347L Adv Women’s Hlth Prac
• NGR 6700 Aprn Synthesis Seminar
• NGR 6700DL Aprn Synthesis Seminar
• NGR 6740 Prof Role Development
• NGR 6740DL Prof Role Development .
• NGR 6891 Hlt Policy & Nursing
• NGR 6891DL Health Policy And Nursing
• NGR 6950 Scholarly Project
• NGR 6950DL Scholarly Project
• NGR 6951 Scholarly Project II
• NGR 6951DL Scholarly Project II
• NGR 6970 Masters Paper
• NGR 6971 Adult/Gerontological Management Practicum I (3)
• NGR 6971DL Adult/Gerontological Management Practicum I (3)
• NGR 6972 Adult/Gerontological Management Practicum II (3)
• NGR 6972DL Master’s Thesis II
• NGR 9201LDL Prim Care Adult Life Prac I