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Creativity and vision are at the foundation of nursing education at UCF. The College of Nursing has developed a range of academic programs to prepare nurses for work in an increasingly complex health care system. Service-learning is promoted throughout the curricula and students are encouraged to engage in nursing research with faculty mentorship. The college prepares leaders to serve the public by improving health, promoting quality of life, patient advocacy, research and public service.

The College of Nursing baccalaureate and master's programs are accredited by:
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036-1120
Telephone: 202-887-6791

The baccalaureate program is also approved by the:
Florida Board of Nursing
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin CO2
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
Telephone: 850-245-4125

The faculty is committed to providing quality multidisciplinary educational programs for a diverse student population at the undergraduate level. This population includes students seeking initial education as nurses and registered nurses seeking completion of the undergraduate nursing degree. Graduates of the baccalaureate nursing program who are not already registered nurses are eligible to sit for licensure examination as registered nurses. Students at UCF represent many educational pathways. Students might be recent high college graduates for whom this is their first time in college, or individuals who have completed prior course work which may have resulted in receipt of a diploma in nursing or Associate of Science, Associate of Arts, baccalaureate or graduate degrees. The faculty supports strong articulation arrangements for access to upper division education for all students.

The baccalaureate preparation in nursing provided by UCF serves as the foundation for collaborative care through direct care delivery, leadership and management roles in nursing, and progression to graduate studies. An ability to delegate care and work in an interdisciplinary team is integral to this approach. Undergraduate nursing education at UCF is built upon a solid foundation of general education requirements that includes course work in the foundational knowledge areas of communication, culture and history, mathematics, behavioral, natural and social sciences. Courses and laboratory experiences in the major reflect a community-oriented approach, which are applied across the continuum of care and throughout the lifespan. The curriculum and progression of learning experiences prepare the graduate to meet health promotion, restoration and rehabilitative needs of clients.

The master's program of the College of Nursing provides a solid base for advanced practice, leadership in health care and progression to doctoral studies. Nurses completing the master's programs are eligible to sit for national certification examinations. Graduates who complete nurse practitioner programs and the clinical nurse specialist program are eligible to apply for state licensure as an advanced registered nurse practitioner. Increasing access to advanced practice preparation is supported by the program development activities of the faculty within and beyond the master's program.

Advanced practice preparation at the master's degree level prepares nurses for increasing responsibility for the provision of health care services and for service as a change agent in the health care system. Advanced practice nurses prepared as nurse practitioners are able to plan, design and implement systems of nursing care that address the health care needs of a wide range of clients across the lifespan. With nursing leadership and management preparation at the master's degree level, nurses are prepared to manage and administer the nursing systems that address the health care needs of diverse client populations.

Clinical Nurse Specialists are nurses with an in-depth understanding of complex clinical problems, as well as interventions to manage and improve patient care.  Clinical Nurse Leaders are master's prepared generalist nurses who are prepared to fulfill leadership roles and organize the delivery of care at the point of care.  These nurses are equipped with the tools needed to lead interdisciplinary teams, evaluate patient outcomes and engage in cost-benefit analysis of nursing interventions.  Nurse Educators are provided with the knowledge and skills to teach in a college setting or a health care agency.  Within the final semester of study, students participate in an internship experience.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing PhD program is designed to prepare nurse scientists to assume positions as nursing faculty members, leaders in the application of innovative technologies to nursing education and clinical care, executive leaders in health care systems and scientists who contribute to the body of nursing knowledge through their research.

The PhD program has three areas of focus:
1) Vulnerable populations within Florida's multicultural environment; 2) Application of innovative technologies to nursing education and clinical care; and 3) health-care systems and policy.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP Program is designed to prepare expert nurse clinicians and scholars with in-depth clinical expertise for leadership roles in a specialized area of advanced practice.  Employment opportunities for graduates will include clinical education, management, practice, clinical outcomes research and administration.

The mission of the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida is to offer high-quality undergraduate and graduate academic programs designed to prepare nurses to practice in a continuously changing health care environment; to provide innovative access to education and research; to develop nurse clinicians, leaders and scholars who promote the health of diverse populations in local, national and global communities; and to touch lives, lead by example and make a difference through clinical excellence, research and community service.

Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core values that guide our conduct, performance, and decisions. These values have been incorporated into a UCF Creed that describes behavior for members of the UCF community, including faculty, staff and students of the College of Nursing.

Integrity: We practice and defend academic and personal honesty.
Scholarship: We cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of our membership in the UCF community.
Community: We promote an open and supportive college environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.
Creativity: We use our talents to enrich the human experience.
Excellence: We strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor we undertake.

As a thriving member of Orlando’s medical city and Central Florida’s health care community, the College of Nursing will be one of the nation’s preeminent leaders in nursing education, practice and research. The college will establish partnerships with some of the nation’s most innovative leaders to model new best practices that harness evolving technology and ensure quality patient outcomes.

• We will create a state-of-the-art educational facility that cultivates a learning environment that promotes and develops the health and well-being of our students and faculty to produce a sustainable workforce in our communities.
• Our proximity to and partnership with leaders in the biomedical and health care industries will provide countless opportunities for collaborative research and clinical practice.
• We will offer the benefits of a large, metropolitan research university while providing individual attention and maintaining a sense of community for our students and faculty.
• Students and faculty will continue to thrive in a trusting environment where diversity is celebrated and individual ideas and talents are mutually respected and supported.
• Students, graduates and faculty will continue to shape the future of health care locally, nationally and globally by delivering health care services to individuals and communities, influencing health care policy, and contributing to science through their own nursing research.
• We will achieve our vision through commitment to sustainability, community partnerships, innovative teaching methods, and service learning; and by fostering excellence in teaching, research, service and practice.

College of Nursing - The nursing program at UCF began in 1978 with an authorization from the State of Florida Board of Regents (BOR) and the Florida Board of Nursing to initiate a baccalaureate nursing program. The first class was admitted in 1979 to the Department of Nursing. Nursing transitioned to a School within the College of Health & Public Affairs in 1995. Nursing program offerings flourished and approval was granted to the School of Nursing to offer an RN to BSN program in Orlando, Cocoa and Daytona. A second degree accelerated BSN option for non-nurse college graduates began in May 2003.

Other Significant Dates:

In 1992, the BOR approved planning for the master's program, and in 1995 the MSN program started. The MSN program now includes tracks for Adult, Family & Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Leadership & Management, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Leader and Nurse Educator.

In 1997, web-based RN to BSN courses were developed and the state's first RN to MSN program option was initiated.

From 1998-2002, the School of Nursing expanded the basic BSN program to Cocoa and began offering the state's first fully web-based RN to BSN program.

In 1999, graduate certificate options were offered in Nursing and Health Professional Education, and Post-MSN Nurse Practitioner.

In 2006, an undergraduate baccalaureate program was started on the Daytona campus.

The PhD in Nursing program commenced in 2003. The program has three areas of focus: vulnerable populations, application of innovative technologies to nursing education and clinical care, and healthcare systems and policy.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program began in 2007.

On July 1, 2007, the School of Nursing became a College of Nursing. This change in status reflected the growth and depth of the educational programs, research and caliber of students attracted to UCF.

UCF Stands for Opportunity- The University of Central Florida (UCF) is one of eleven public universities within the Florida Board of Education's Division of Colleges and Universities. The university was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University. In 1978, the name was changed to the University of Central Florida. UCF serves an eleven-county area. Under the direction of President Hitt, UCF has grown into a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students.