Basic (Generic BSN) Track

Accreditation
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS) offers a professional program of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The BSN program was approved by the Board of Regents of the State University System in 1982. The program is open to non-RN (basic/generic) and RN students. The CNHS BSN & MSN programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036-1120, (202) 887-8476, and approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing, (4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN CO2, Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-245-4125).

Upon graduation, Basic (Generic BSN) students are eligible to write the NCLEX (RN licensing examination) to become registered nurses. The College also offers a track for registered nurses to complete the BSN degree.  To accommodate the adult learner, nursing courses in the curriculum may be offered web enhanced or completely online.  Graduates of the BSN program are eligible for masters level study.

Admission Requirements
The Generic BSN track is a limited enrollment 125 credit track (maximum admission for Fall semester = 50 students and Summer semester = 50 students) with a competitive admission process based on previous academic performance. To be considered for admission, applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher with no repeats in science courses because of failure, have completed science courses within the past 10 years, have met all the lower division requirements including CLAST, have completed 60 credits, have met entry requirements for computation and reading skills (Nurse Entrance Test), and be recommended for admission by the Undergraduate Nursing Admissions Committee.

Applicants to the Generic BSN track must submit an Application for Admission to the University and must follow the regular University procedures. Applicants must be admitted to the University before admission to the Generic BSN track.

All necessary admission documents must be submitted by February 15 of the year preceding the Summer Term admission or May 15 of the year preceding the Fall Term admission. To be complete, the application must include the required essay, official copies of transcripts for all attended schools, and the Nurse Entrance Test (NET). Students applying for the Fall semester must complete prerequisites by end of Spring semester and students applying for Spring semester must successfully complete prerequisites by end of Summer term. 

NOTE: Applicants who take prerequisite courses at a public Florida community college are strongly encouraged to complete the Associate of Arts (AA) degree before transferring credits to FIU. Students who enter FIU without an AA degree, transfer from out-of-state, or transfer from a private community college must meet the FIU core curriculum requirements and must satisfy State of Florida mandated Gordon rule and CLAST requirements prior to full admission to the nursing major.

Applicants who were not accepted for the class of their first choice, MUST REQUEST RECONSIDERATION by the application deadline if they wish to be considered for a future entering class.  Automatic application deferrals to a subsequent class will not be done.  To be considered for admission to a future class, students must submit an updated transcript/SASS and a letter requesting to be considered for another semester, and they must assure that their file is complete. 

The Florida Board of Nursing and clinical agencies require the disclosure of conviction records for misdemeanors and/or felonies; therefore, this information is required at the time of admission.  Applicants are required to submit to state and federal background checks at the time of admission.  In addition, some clinical agencies require drug testing on entry to the agency. Findings in background checks may affect a student's ability to participate in clinical experiences and complete the track, and/or obtain registered nurse licensure.  For FIU's policies and procedures related to substance abuse, click here If you have questions about the background check, contact Dr. Kathleen Blais, Director of Undergraduate Programs, 305-348-7712.

Nursing majors are responsible for transportation expenses related to clinical experiences. They are required to carry health and accident insurance. To safeguard the health of both nursing students and their clients, students must submit proof of health examination and required immunizations on entry into the track. Students must submit proof of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification prior to entering clinical courses in the track. CPR certification, immunizations, and health insurance must be kept current during enrollment in the major.

In addition to FIU undergraduate tuition and fees (see FIU Tuition & Fees), nursing students are charged an additional fee of $83/credit for clinical courses (courses with an L suffix). The additional fee supports clinical instructional costs, a testing program, and laboratory/technology supplies and costs.

The student is expected to exhibit behavior that conforms to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Florida. The nursing programs of the CNHS reserve the right to refuse or discontinue enrollment of any student if the student violates the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Florida or, in the judgment of the faculty, the student does not meet the CNHS standards.

Admission Consideration: Steps to be Completed:

• Make an appointment to attend a general information session on the University Park Campus. Call (305) 348-7703.
• Complete and submit the online FIU application with the required application fee.  An applicant can also obtain an application from the Office of Admissions and return it to the FIU Office of Admissions, Miami, FL 33199-0001. NOTE:  Please complete and/or send the FIU application before requesting transcripts.
• Complete and return the CNHS undergraduate BSN application to the FIU CNHS, University Park Campus, Undergraduate Nursing Program, HLS 2, Room 492, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199. Include essay of professional goals.
• Request two (2) copies of official transcripts of all previous academic work from the respective colleges/universities to be sent to the
  • (1) FIU Office of Admissions, Miami, FL 33199-0001 and
  • (2) FIU CNHS, University Park Campus, Undergraduate Nursing Program, HLS 2, Room 485, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199.  NOTE:  The transcript sent to the CNHS must be a "paper" transcript.
• Take the Nurse Entrance Test (NET) at the FIU Testing Center.  http://testing.fiu.edu/  Test scores must be submitted to the CNHS admissions office by the application deadline.  There is a testing fee of $35.  Call the Testing Center for an appointment:

• Once file is complete, make an individual advising appointment with the Coordinator, Academic Support Services at the University Park Campus Campus, (305) 348-7703. Bring copies of all transcripts to the advising appointment for evaluation of deficiencies in state mandated requirements and/or nursing prerequisites.
• Financial aid may be available to nursing students. For information on whether you qualify for financial aid through FIU, click on the following link: FIU Financial Aid   For scholarships available through the University, click on the following link: FIU Scholarships  For nursing scholarships , click on the following link: CNHS Nursing Scholarships

Scholastic Requirements
To remain in good academic standing once admitted to the nursing Generic BSN track, students are required to:

• Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
• Achieve a grade of “C” or higher in all nursing courses. A student who earns less than a ‘C’ in any course will be required to repeat the course in order to progress in the nursing track. A student may repeat a course one time only. Failure in two clinical and/or clinical-related nursing courses will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
• Take specific nursing achievement examinations (to be announced at the beginning of each academic term). In addition, Generic BSN students are required to pass a nursing synthesis (exit) exam as a prerequisite to the BSN degree. (This examination is given during the last semester of the Basic (Generic BSN) track).
• The College reserves the right to terminate a student from the nursing program for reasons related to the inability to safely carry out professional responsibilities.
• Students who were dismissed from other nursing programs because of academic failures will not be admitted to the CNHS nursing unit.

Foreign-Educated Nursing Students
Students who are referred to the CNHS nursing unit by the Florida Board of Nursing to complete educational deficiencies related to nursing education obtained in foreign nursing schools will be permitted a maximum of two attempts to be successful on any required course.

For information on the BSN admission process, contact:

• Coordinator, Academic Support Services
  HLS 2 Room 485 University Park Campus
  (305) 348-7703

NOTE: Florida International University and College of Nursing and Health Sciences' policies, procedures, requirements and regulations are continually subject to review in order to serve the needs of the University/College’s publics and to respond to the mandates of the Florida Department of Education, Board of Governors, the Legislature, and other regulatory and accrediting agencies.  Changes in programs, policies, procedures, requirements, and regulations may be made without advance notice.