Entry Level BSN Program
The entry level program is designed for students who are seeking initial licensure as a registered nurse (RN). Upon completion of the 121 credits the student is awarded a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and is eligible to sit for the National Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX).
- The Bachelor of Science degree in nursing is the critical first step for a career in professional nursing. NSU offers the entry level nursing program in Ft. Lauderdale* and Ft. Myers, Florida.
- The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and other leading nursing organizations recognize the BSN degree as the minimum educational requirement for professional nursing practice.
- The BSN curriculum includes a broad spectrum of scientific, critical-thinking, humanistic, communication, and leadership skills, including specific courses on community health nursing not typically included in diploma or associate-degree tracks.
- Today's professional nurse must be a skilled provider, designer, manager, and coordinator of care. Nurses must make quick, sometimes life-and-death decisions; understand a patient's treatment, symptoms, and danger signs; supervise other nursing personnel; coordinate care with other health providers; master advanced technology; guide patients through the maze of health resources in a community; and teach patients how to comply with treatment and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
- The BSN nurse is preferred -- More nurse executives are indicating their desire for the majority of their hospital staff nurses to be prepared at the baccalaureate level to meet the more complex demands of today's patient care. In fact, the words "BSN preferred" are appearing more frequently in classified ads for registered nurses nationwide.
The entry level nursing program curriculum is completed following a minimum of 30 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of specific undergraduate coursework. This coursework may be completed at a community college or university. Upon completion of the 30 semester hours the student may apply to the nursing program.
The remaining 91 semester hours may be completed within 27 months in the nursing program. Each semester is a combination of didactic and clinical courses. The department requires enrolled students to complete the entire program. Individual requests for advanced placement, transfer of credit, or credit for experiential learning will be reviewed in line with college requirements.
* Once accepted into the entry level program on the Ft. Lauderdale Campus, students can apply to the NSU option at Baptist Health South Florida in Kendall Florida.