Academics
USF College of Nursing is preparing 21st-century nurses - The University of South Florida College of Nursing prepares 21st-century nurses to address the health care needs of local and global communities through excellence in research, education, and...
The USF College of Nursing began in 1973 by enrolling its charter class into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The College has grown steadily with the profession, adding a Master of Science in Nursing program in 1980, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in 1997, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in 2005.
The Bachelor Program has expanded beyond traditional students, to include an accelerated 2nd bachelor sequence and a new program where Registered Nurses may complete a bachelor's degree in patient and staff education, leadership and management, or clinical excellence.
In the Master’s Program, students may choose from concentrations in Nurse Anesthesia, Clinical Nurse Leader, Nurse Education, and six Nurse Practitioner sub-specialties. Graduate certificates are available in many of these concentrations as well.
The USF College of Nursing has two doctoral programs (traditional PhD and the Doctor of Nursing Practice - DNP). A PhD Program that prepares nurse scientists who conduct research, scholarly and faculty activities at research intensive universities, and are leaders in the profession. USF has the first DNP program approved by the Florida Board of Governors, and it has grown to provide advanced practice residency opportunities in primary care as well as Signature Residencies in high demand clinical specialties such as: Brain/Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation, Cardiology, Cognitive Impairment, Dermatology, Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease, Gerontology/Aging, Nurse Anesthesia, Oncology, Orthopedics, Polytrauma, and Psych/Mental Health.
Accreditation & Approval
The Baccalaureate, Master's, and DNP programs at the University of South Florida, College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The USF College of Nursing received full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for the BS and MS programs until Fall 2020, and DNP program until Fall 2015.
The USF College of Nursing has Florida Board of Nursing approval.
The Nurse Anesthesia DNP concentration is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs.
The University of South Florida is accredited by Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master's, specialist, and doctoral levels.
Teaching Affiliates
Hospitals affiliating with the college include but are not limited to: Tampa General Hospital, Florida Hospital Tampa, St. Joseph's Hospital, Bayfront Medical Center, All Children's Hospital, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Morton Plant Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, South Florida Baptist Hospital, and Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Additionally, the USF College of Nursing maintains over 350 healthcare affiliations throughout Florida to provide clinical experiences at the baccalareate, master's and doctoral levels.
Research
The University of South Florida College of Nursing has joined the ranks of the top 25 nursing schools nationwide receiving National Institutes of Health research funding. There are more than 600 colleges of nursing nationwide. [Story at http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=24334]
USF nursing research focuses on moving scientific discoveries to patients and the community through two broad-based initiatives â€" chronic illness and veterans’ health. Through the college’s Center for Living with Chronic Illness, faculty and students collaborate on innovative solutions to leading healthcare issues like heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, cancer, and symptom management for chronic illnesses. Through the college's Restore Lives Center: Research and Education to Rehabilitate and Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families we are focusing on evidence-based research and education programs to train a nursing workforce, capable of helping veterans and service members overcome psychological stress and other health problems that result from serving in combat operations. The college’s Biobehavioral Laboratory, providing state-of-the-art biological data analysis, supports both initiatives.
USF Health
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 34th in federal research expenditures for public universities.
