NSG_BSN - Nursing

About this Program

• College: Nursing
• Degree: Bachelor of Science
• Credits for Degree: 120

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

The University of Florida College of Nursing’s BSN program is designed around the core principles of Care, Lead, Inspire — three essential pillars that guide students’ development into competent, compassionate, and transformative nursing professionals. These pillars form the foundation of the nursing curriculum and ensure that graduates are prepared to meet the demands of contemporary healthcare systems while leading innovation in nursing practice.

The curriculum is structured to build from fundamental nursing principles to advanced practice, with students acquiring the cognitive, affective, and technical competencies necessary for professional nursing. It is organized logically from simpler to more complex concepts, allowing students to progressively develop and refine their clinical reasoning, judgment, and leadership skills.

Early Semesters: Foundational Knowledge & Clinical Competencies

In the first two semesters, students focus on foundational courses that provide an understanding of the core principles of personalized nursing care. These courses emphasize the foundational knowledge needed to care for patients across the lifespan, covering essential areas such as:

• The principles of professional nursing practice and ethical decision-making.
• Understanding of nursing theory and the nurse-patient relationship.
• Legal guidelines, professional values, and standards of care.
• Developing clinical reasoning and judgment in controlled environments with increasing complexity.

During these semesters, students will also begin gaining hands-on experience in simulated clinical settings, enabling them to apply what they’ve learned in a safe, structured manner. The emphasis is on learning basic clinical techniques, understanding the context of nursing practice, and becoming familiar with the nurse's ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities.

Intermediate Semesters: Enhancing Clinical Judgment & Care Delivery

As students progress into the third and fourth semesters, the focus shifts towards applying knowledge in real-world clinical settings, with increased complexity in both content and outcomes. During these semesters, students will:

• Engage in more advanced clinical practice and refine their clinical judgment through hands-on patient care experiences in diverse settings.
• Develop a deeper understanding of evidence-based practice, learning to incorporate the latest research into care delivery for individuals, families, and communities.
• Explore leadership roles, developing formal and informal leadership skills, such as team coordination, conflict resolution, and delegation in clinical environments.
• Begin working with interdisciplinary teams to foster collaboration among healthcare professionals and improve patient outcomes.
• Apply critical thinking skills in managing increasingly complex patient care scenarios involving individuals, families, and vulnerable populations.

This stage of the curriculum introduces students to more complex patient care scenarios, including patients with multi-faceted healthcare needs. Students can integrate theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on care, preparing them for increasingly independent practice in clinical settings.

Final Semester: Leadership, Innovation, and Professional Advocacy

In the final semester, students engage in a culminating project where they must develop an innovative solution to a problem or issue relevant to the nursing profession. This capstone experience encourages critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Students are expected to:

• Collaborate with peers and faculty to develop and implement an innovative nursing practice solution.
• Enhance their leadership skills by participating in interprofessional collaborations and advocating for positive change within the health care system.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the health care system and how nursing can influence individual and population health outcomes.
• Engage in professional activities that promote social justice, health equity, and cultural competence in nursing care delivery.

Students are also expected to refine their ability to advocate for patients, improve healthcare systems, and lead initiatives that drive the future of nursing practice. The final semester reinforces the importance of inspiring others, whether that be through mentorship, leadership in practice, or contributions to research and innovation in health care.

Throughout the program, clinical experiences and coursework are intricately designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of the ever-evolving healthcare system. By the time they graduate, Gator Nurses will have developed the ability to care for individuals, families, and communities, lead innovative changes in the nursing field, and inspire their peers and patients.