University of South Florida
College of Nursing
Tampa, Florida
Overview
Established in 1956, the University of South Florida, a Research I university, is the thirteenth-largest university in the nation, with more than 39,170 students at four campuses (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Lakeland). The University is the home of the largest distance learning program in Florida and houses a virtual library that brings educational resources to students in their homes.
Nurses are in high demand in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. Students at the USF College of Nursing assume a wide variety of professional positions that include clinical practice, education, research, and hospital administration.
African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American students make up 26 percent of the College of Nursing's population. Students are active in their professional organizations as officers in the Florida Nursing Association and have been recognized through national and state awards for their contributions. Currently, the total student enrollment is 821, which includes 302 master's students and 31 doctoral students.
The Location and Community
Tampa is located on the Gulf Coast of central Florida, one of the most rapidly growing areas in the country. Metropolitan Tampa is home to approximately 1.5 million people, or 16 percent of Florida's population. Many cultural and entertainment activities are available, including performances by the Gulf Coast Symphony, art exhibits, and professional football, hockey, and baseball. The climate is conducive to many forms of outdoor recreational activities. Well-known attractions, such as Busch Gardens, Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, and Universal Studios, are within easy reach of the University.
Programs of study and degree requirements
The University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing is committed to providing excellent nursing education and advancing the nursing profession through research, practice, and community service. The College is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The College of Nursing offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in nursing, a post-master's certificate program, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in nursing, and a B.S. to Ph.D in nursing program. The master's program emphasizes the preparation of expert clinicians who are able to manage complex nursing situations. Advanced practice specialty programs are primary care of the adult, child, and family; oncology; psychiatric nursing; gerontology; geropsychiatry; and acute care. An occupational health nursing dual-degree program with the College of Public Health (M.S./M.P.H.) is also offered. The College also offers an M.S. in health systems leadership and nursing education.
Facilities & Resources
The College has access to a variety of excellent clinical teaching, research, and administration experiences for student learning, including the University Medical Clinics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Shriner's Hospital for Children, Florida Mental Health Institute, James A. Haley Veterans Administrative Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, University Community Hospital, All Children's Hospital, and the Bay Care Network. In addition, the College of Nursing has affiliations with more than 120 health-care facilities that participate in the educational experiences of the master's students.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition fees for the year are $333.07 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,194.56 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Fees vary slightly at regional campuses. Master's degree programs range from 44 to 50 credit hours.
Financial Aid:
Financial aid at USF is awarded on the basis of financial need and/or merit. State, federal, institutional, and other funds are available. Full-time and part-time students are eligible to apply for assistance. In addition, the federal Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships, the Nurse Faculty Loan, and the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students programs and a substantial number of College-based scholarships are available to qualified applicants. Last year, the College awarded more than $700,000 in financial aid and scholarships.
Housing/Living Expenses:
Students at the University of South Florida have numerous choices for living on campus. Double rooms range from $1,688 to $1,907 per semester. Campus housing information can be viewed on the University Web site at http://www.housing.usf.edu/. In addition, the surrounding community offers many choices for economical apartment living.
How to Apply
Application materials are available through the College of Nursing Office of Student Affairs. Admissions criteria include a personal goal statement, a resume, three letters of reference, transcripts from previous institutions, an individual interview, and GRE General Test scores. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit TOEFL scores.
Who to Contact
Office of Student Affairs
College of Nursing
University of South Florida
12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33612
813-974-9305
888-974-9488
The Faculty and Research
• USF's College of Nursing enjoys its highly regarded reputation in undergraduate and graduate nursing education in part because of the faculty's commitment to outstanding teaching, scholarly research, and service to the profession and community. This distinctive group of highly motivated members is leading USF in its mission to become the premier institution for those striving to achieve leadership in nursing.
• Pat Albright, M.P.H.; RN. Public health.
• Barbara Battin, B.S.N., M.P.H. Maternal-child health, public health.
• Theresa M. Beckie, Ph.D.; RN. Quality of life and cardiovascular disease, critical-thinking implementation and evaluation, measurement and LISREL modeling, end-of-life issues.
• Jason W. Beckstead, Ph.D. Health services delivery and patient perception, social network analysis of health-care systems, functionally impaired health-care professionals.
• Adrienne Berarducci, Ph.D.; ARNP, CS. Health promotion, women's health, osteoporosis.
• Linda Beson, M.S.N.; RN. Cardiovascular disease in women.
• Nancy Bickel, M.S.N.; RN. Nursing services, emergency/trauma.
• Kim Blend, M.S.N.; ARNP. Psychiatric nursing.
• Dorit Breiter, M.S.N.; ARNP. Psychiatry.
• Candace M. Burns, Ph.D.; RN. Health promotion/modification of risk factors, impaired professionals (nurses), occupational stress and strain.
• Patricia A. Burns, Ph.D.; RN, FAAN. Female urinary incontinence. Current grants include Professional Nurse Traineeship and Burns, Health Resources and Services Administration, 1999.
• Cas Cahill, M.S. Pain management.
• Deborah J. Cantero, M.S.; ARNP. Hypertension and wellness health-care practices in the elderly.
• Deborah Condosta, M.S.; ARNP-C. Pharmacology anxiety, diabetic medications.
• Norma Conner, Ph.D.; RN. Oncology.
• Erica Cox, M.S.; FNP. Cardiovascular nursing.
• Teresa Dowdell, R.Ph. Pharmacology
• Janet Dubois, M.S.; ARNP. Primary care women/child.
• Allison Edmonds, M.S.; ARNP. Adult health.
• Sharon Edwards, Ph.D.; RN. Adult health, pulmonary critical care.
• Mary E. Evans, Ph.D.; RN, FAAN. Implementation of systems of care legislation, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (Robert M. Friedman, principal investigator of center grant; Mary E. Evans, principal investigator of research study, 1999-2004).
• Nancy Gardner, Ph.D.; ARNP. Oncology.
• Laura Gonzalez, M.S.; RN, ARNP. Adult health, occupational/emergency.
• Lois O. Gonzalez, Ph.D.; ARNP. Interpersonal factors and depression at end of life, alternative therapies.
• S. Joan Gregory, Ph.D.; ARNP. Quality-of-life issues and learning-style profiles (Native Americans).
• Clyde Gwinn, M.D. Pathophysiology, infectious disease.
• Nuria Lisa Hahn, M.S.N.; ARNP. Acute care nurse practitioner studies.
• Tomka Harris, M.S.N.; ARNP.
• Katie Jerla, M.S.N.; ARNP. Adolescents/women's health.
• Cecilia Jevitt, Ph.D.; RN, CNM, ARNP. Prenatal care, obesity prevention, oral health in pregnancy.
• Afriyie Johnson, M.S.; RN, FCNS, CFNP. Differences in reported symptoms and/or risk factors and clinical breast exam findings in low-income white and black women.
• Kimberly Jones, B.S.N., M.S.; ARNP. Perioperative nursing/surgery.
• Judith Karshmer, Ph.D.; RN, CNS. Adult psychiatric and mental health nursing.
• Lilyan Kay, B.S.N., M.S., M.P.H.; FNP, CNM. Midwifery, women's health, jail health.
• Mary Ann Krisman-Scott, Ph.D.; RN, FNP. Family health, adolescent health, women's health, care of the dying.
• Nagi Kumar, Ph.D.; RN. Nutrition.
• Cecile A. Lengacher, Ph.D.; RN. Women's health, psychoneuroimmunology and breast cancer, role strain, health promotion, cancer and complementary therapies, organizational redesign, measurement: instrument development and testing.
• Susan C. McMillan, Ph.D.; RN, FAAN. Symptom management in persons with cancer, quality of life at end of life, cancer prevention and early detection, program evaluation, instrument development and testing.
• Linda E. Moody, Ph.D.; RN, FAAN. End-of-life issues (symptom management and quality of life), aging and chronic illness (COPD), measurement (instrument development and testing) and meta-analysis.
• Audrey Nelson, Ph.D., M.S.N. Patient safety, safe patient handling, movement.
• Carla Nye, B.S.N., M.S. Perinatal nursing.
• Janine Overcash, Ph.D.; ARNP. Geriatrics/oncology.
• Barbara A. Redding, Ed.D.; RN. Perinatal substance abuse education.
• Elaine Slocumb, Ph.D.; RN. Information systems management, strengthening hospital nursing.
• Maggi Tabano, M.S.N. Oncology.
• Vicki Vann, M.S.; ARNP. Acute care.
• Mary S. Webb, Ph.D.; RN. Hypertension in African-American women, dyspnea in end-stage pulmonary patients.