Becoming an RN in Florida
There are many paths to becoming an RN. You are eligible for licensure in Florida if you have graduated from either an approved or accredited program. This may be at the ADN or BSN level. A program is approved if it is located within Florida’s borders and if it meets the guidelines set by the state. An accredited program, on the other hand, may have its physical address within another state. This is particularly common in the modern internet world; there are many online programs that allow practicing health professionals to pursue higher degrees and higher levels of certification. If a program is not located within Florida, it must meet the standards of a recognized credentialing body and if it is a pre-licensure program, meet the approval of the Florida State Board of Nursing. A petition will need to be submitted and approved.
In addition to completing a pre-licensure nursing degree program, you will need to take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Schools are required to report their pass rates, so this is one factor you may take into account when choosing schools. Florida schools had an over 90% first time pass rate, according to data linked to by the Florida Board of Nursing.
RN Career and Education Pathways
If nursing is your second career, you may be able to earn your degree in a much shorter space of time. Schools like the University of Miami have accelerated second degree BSN programs that can be completed in as little as one year.
If you are certified as a vocational nurse, you may also have a shortened path to state licensure. Many schools in the state have voluntary articulation agreements. There are both LPN to ADN and LPN to BSN options.
Registered Nursing Career Outlook in Florida
How easy will it be to find a job after graduation? The Florida Center for Nursing addressed workforce issues in a series of 2010 reports. They noted that the recession had temporarily staved off a nursing crisis as more nurses were opting to delay retirement or pick up additional shifts. Long term, though, demand was still expected to exceed supply. The population as a whole is aging, and so are the nurses that care for them. Many will be retiring in the coming years. Less certain is the impact of recent legislation. Healthcare reform may increase the need for advanced practice nurses, and this may in turn increase vacancies at the RN level.
The reports noted that healthcare and education have remained comparative bright spots even in difficult times. According to the FCN, the hiring situation varied greatly from facility to facility with some reporting that they had little turnover or a wealth of applicants, and others reporting that recruitment still posed a challenge.
Your success will depend in part on where your interests and aptitudes lay. In 2007, the highest RN vacancy rates were found in home health care; here the vacancy rate was a shocking 14%. Skilled nursing facilities followed close behind. By 2009, vacancy rates had gone down to below 9% — a probable result of the recession — but nearly half of skilled nursing facilities still reported difficulty recruiting RNs. Most of the new jobs created between 2009 and 2011 were expected to be outside of hospital settings.
The Nursing School Application Process
During 2008 to 2009, nearly half of qualified applicants were turned away from registered nursing programs, despite the fact that there was a shortage. Part of the reason for that is that nursing schools don’t have the capacity. How can you increase your chances of getting in to a program? Professional nursing programs do have science prerequisites, and they are often at a higher level than those required for practical nurses. Your grades in these courses can be very important. BSN level nurses are frequently called upon to be leaders. An advisor for the Health Occupations Students Association notes that schools like well rounded candidates who have demonstrated leadership ability.
Do remember that there are a lot of schools out there to apply to. The Florida Board currently lists 29 in-state BSN programs. There were nearly 100 at the ADN level — and these figures don’t take into account online LPN to RN programs offered by institutions in other states.
Associate Degree Nursing Programs Approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing
Brown Mackie College – Miami
The Brown Mackie College Associate’s in Nursing program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.
City College
The City College Associate’s of Science in Nursing programs offered at the Miami and Fort Lauderdale campuses are approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.
Concorde Career Institute – Nursing
Concorde offers an Associate’s Degree in Nursing and a Practical Nursing program at their Jacksonville,FL campus. Learn more about these programs today.
Fortis Institute – Pensacola
The Fortis Institute Associate’s in Nursing program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing.
Keiser University
The Keiser University Associate’s in Nursing programs listed below are either approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing or accredited by the CCNE or NLNAC.
Brevard Community College – Palm Bay Campus (ADN) | Brevard Community College (ADN) | Broward Community College (ADN) Central Campus 3501 Southwest Davie Road Davie 33314 | Broward Community College (ADN) North Campus |
Broward Community College (ADN) South Campus | Central Florida Community College (ADN) | Central Florida Community College (ADN) – Citrus County Campus | Chipola College (ADN) |
City College (ADN) 2000 West Commercial Blvd | Daytona Beach Community College – Flagler Palm | Daytona Beach Community College – South (ADN) | Daytona Beach Community College – West (ADN) |
Daytona Beach Community College (ADN) | Edison Community College (ADN) Charlotte Center | Edison Community College (ADN) Collier Center | Edison Community College (ADN) Lee Center |
Florida Community College at Jacksonville (ADN) | Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences (ADN) | Florida Keys Community College – Middle Keys (ADN) | Florida Keys Community College – Upper Keys (ADN) |
Florida Keys Community College (ADN) | Florida Metropolitan University 3924 Coconut Palm Drive Tampa 33619 | Galen Health Institute of Tampa Bay, Inc. (ADN) | Gulf Coast Community College (ADN) |
Herzing College (A.D.N.) | Hillsborough Community College – Plant City (ADN) | Hillsborough Community College – Tampa (ADN) | Indian River Community College (ADN) |
Lake City Community College (ADN) | Lake-Sumter Community College – South Lake | Lake-Sumter Community College (ADN) | Manatee Community College (ADN) |
Manatee Community College (ADN) | Miami-Dade College – Homestead (ADN) | Miami-Dade College (ADN) 950 N.W. 20th Street | North Florida Community College (ADN) |
Okaloosa-Walton College (ADN) | Palm Beach Community College (ADN) | Pasco-Hernando Community College (ADN) East Campus | Pasco-Hernando Community College (ADN) North Campus |
Pasco-Hernando Community College (ADN) West Campus 10230 Ridge Road | Pensacola Junior College (ADN) | Polk Community College (ADN) | Santa Fe Community College (ADN) |
Seminole Community College (ADN) | South Florida Community College (ADN) | St. John’s River Community College – Orange | St. John’s River Community College (ADN) |
St. Petersburg College (ADN) P.O. Box 13489 | Tallahassee Community College (ADN) | Valencia Community College (ADN) | Webster College (A.D.N.) |
BSN Programs Approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing
South University | BSN Program
The programs offered at South University are approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing, which means you are getting the most current and respected BSN level education in the State of Florida. the BSN program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the University itself is accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Graduates of this BSN program are eligible for the NCLEX exam. South University is accepting applications now, so contact them today!
Programs Offered: BSN
Chamberlain College of Nursing
The BSN program offered by Chamberlain College of Nursing is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing. Graduates of this BSN program are eligible for the the Florida licensure exam.
Programs Offered: BSN
5200 Belfort Road, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Remington College of Nursing
The Remington College of Nursing Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing program is approved by the Florida State Board of Nursing. Graduates are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.
Remington College of Nursing, 660 Century Point Suite 1050, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Barry University College of Health Sciences – Division of Nursing
The BSN program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The MSN programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Barry University accepts applications year-round, click below to request information and program materials.
Programs Offered: BSN, LPN-to-BSN, RN-to-BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN/BSN-to-MSN, Part-Time MSN – (Tracks: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Administrator, Nurse Educator), Accelerated RN to MSN, RN to MSN Bridge (RN with baccalaureate in another field to MSN), Post-Master’s Certificate (Tracks: Acute Care NP, Family NP, Nursing Administration), PhD in Nursing
Barry University College of Health Sciences, Health Sciences Admissions, 11300 N.E. Second Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695
University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. The anesthesia program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs. The nurse-midwifery program is accredited by the American College of Nursing-Midwives.
Programs Offered: BSN, Second Degree BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, MSN – (Tracks: Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Midwifery, Acute Care NP, Adult NP, Family NP, Blended Role Psychiatric/Mental Health Specialist, Women’s Health NP), PhD Nursing, Graduate Certificates: Education or Research
University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, P.O. Box 248153, Coral Gables, FL 33124
Barry University (BSN) | Bethune-Cookman College (BSN) | Florida A & M University (BSN) | Florida Atlantic University (BSN) |
Florida Gulf Coast University (BSN) | Florida Gulf Coast University (BSN) | Florida International University (BSN) | Florida Southern College |
Florida State University (BSN) | Jacksonville University (BSN) | Nova Southeastern University (BSN) | Palm Beach Atlantic University (BSN) |
Pensacola Christian College (BSN) | South University – Tampa (BSN) | South University (BSN) | University of Central Florida (BSN) |
University of Florida (BSN) | University of Florida (BSN) | University of Miami (BSN) 5801 Red Road | University of North Florida (BSN) |
University of South Florida (BSN) | University of Tampa (BSN) | University of West Florida (BSN) |