10 Nursing Schools in Jacksonville Florida

Jacksonville Florida is an elite community, home to several institutions of higher education, which often offer a good deal of accredited nursing school programs from selected colleges, universities, and institutes in the area.

These nursing programs are designed for both new, existing and experienced nurses that want to turn their dreams into reality.

As you know, the nursing career involves a collection of different distinctions (which include nurses being RNs or Registered Nurses, NPs or Nurse Practitioners, LPNs for Licensed Practical Nurses, and so on.) with regards to consistent preparation and credibility to become a professional in the field.

Based on these, and your purpose for choosing nursing as a career as well as your mental capability and service to humanity every thought weighs on your mind because you need to decide to forge ahead in your career.

Sometimes, reading medical reports, discoveries, research, and findings from some nursing schools can either sway your choice or affirm your decision. All in the thirst, to be responsible and to make the right judgment with the strong hope that it isn’t just the right one but a good one. As the saying goes, “We live with our consequences”.

So, myriad questions come to mind like- what and which nursing school is the best for me? what are the requirements? what is the acceptance rate? Is the nursing school accredited? Do they offer the nursing program I’m interested in?  Is the facility worth it? 

Do not go too far because there are nursing schools in Jacksonville FL for you to consider.

About Jacksonville University

JU is a private, non-profit institution. It has a Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Science which contains the highly recommended Keigwin School of Nursing founded in the year 1983.

The school has an acceptance rate of 92% and a graduation rate of 41%. Although this varies year by year. Concerning the school fees, 94% of JU students receive some form of financial assistance.

The nursing school prepares students to join the community of healthcare professionals who provide exemplary services and care to a diverse population of individuals. Enrolling in the nursing program at JU will build your existing education for an even stronger academic foundation.

The school offers 

• Bachelor of Science in nursing
• Master of Science in nursing 
• Doctor of nursing practice and 
• Postgraduate certificate.

This baccalaureate degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, CCNE.

10 Nursing Schools in Jacksonville Florida

There are a lot of amazing nursing schools in Jacksonville but there are a few who have made the mark in terms of rankings, quality of programs and a lot more. These schools include:

1. University of North Florida

NF is a public coeducational institution that was founded in 1965. It is a part of the State University of Florida System. The school has a large area of 1,300 acres, although most students live off-campus despite the 6 areas secluded for on-campus housing. It boasts an acceptance rate of 72% and a graduation rate of 61%.

About a decade ago, the nursing school was selected as the flagship program at the University of North Florida. The result has been four BSN track options, including an accelerated BSN, and four graduate degree tracks. The attention they give to all their nursing students is difficult to contend with, and with incredible in-state tuition, UNF is a school you should consider on your list.

2. Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences at Florida International University.

This college is one of the oldest colleges situated at Florida International University with an FIU Nursing Department. They believe that nurses are the frontline of a healthcare community so, they are expected to be well trained and to be passionate about their careers.

FIU helps to develop healthcare leaders providers and researchers. Being the largest nursing program in the whole of Florida, the school has a 58% acceptance rate and a 78% of graduation rate.

They offer Bachelor’s that is the Undergraduate Nursing (BSN), Master’s that is the Graduate Nursing (MSN/DNP), Doctoral that is PhD in Nursing (PhD), and Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNP-NA) nursing program to help you discover all the opportunities in the nursing career. This baccalaureate degree obtained is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, CCNE.

As a graduate of the FIU BSN program, you are eligible to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN) upon passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

You could also perform your profession by caring at the bedside or in a classroom or the community and you could also discover culturally competent solutions to healthcare research and policy-making.

However, the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice is accredited by the CCNE and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

3. University of South Florida

University of South Florida Health College of Nursing was founded in 1973 and is located with campuses in Tampa and Sarasota-Manatee. The students in the school are of a diverse group. Their mission is to employ the core values of excellence, innovation, inclusion, and respect in educating future nurses, advance nursing science, and implement evidence-based clinical practice to improve health and wellness. The college offer undergraduate, graduate, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

The baccalaureate degree is also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education CCNE. Although, the master’s and Nurse Anesthesia major in the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) until 2022.

4. Florida State College at Jacksonville

The Florida State College Nursing school is a public institution located at the North, Nassau, and Deerwood campuses. The school has a 36% acceptance rate and an 80% graduation rate. There, they believed that nurses are considered to be the heart and soul of a health team. FSCJ offers a variety of nursing programs

1. Nursing (B.S.N)
2. Nursing (R.N)
3. Nursing (R.N)/ bridge option for paramedics and licensed practical nurses (A.S)
4. Practical Nursing (C.C)
5. Nursing assistant training

The Program is approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and it is awarded a range of bachelor’s degrees, Certificates, and Associate Degrees.

The baccalaureate degree is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

5. Keiser University – Jacksonville

The College of Nursing offers several graduate degrees and doctoral nursing degrees for advanced practice within the nursing profession. The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is offered in a way that allows students with a previous college degree to complete the program of study in four semesters. In these schools, you will experience a well-rounded comprehensive curriculum as well as high-quality Labs and facilities. To begin or advance in your nursing career this is another school you need to consider.

6. Chamberlain University College of Nursing-Jacksonville

The University is a private nonprofit institution located in Jacksonville. The school has an acceptance rate of 100% and a 65% graduation rate with a direct-entry nursing program. The baccalaureate degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

However, the Jacksonville BSN degree program has temporarily been moved to an online learning platform, with clinical rotations, demonstrations, and but skills labs are currently on hold. Though the program does not have any prerequisites and is completed in three years of year-round study, providing you with the opportunity to earn your degree faster than at a traditional four-year institution. The nursing college offers the following programs:

1. RN to BSN Online Option
2. RN-BSN to MSN Option
3. Master of Science in Nursing
4. Doctor of Nursing Practice

7. Nova Southern University Jacksonville campus

Knowing that to be a Nurse demands time and commitment, they aim to ensure that every Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing degree earned becomes an invaluable career investment for decades to come. The school offers diverse M.S.N. and M.S.N.- A.P.R.N. programs with accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

8. Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville

The Jacksonville campus is located across St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside. For the past 50years, the institute has been training health care professionals in career-focused programs such as nursing, and others. It has a graduation rate of 65%.

Their diploma and associate degree programs are designed to get you out of the classroom and into real-world careers. The institute offers RN programs that run for 21months and once completed, you may sit for the NCLEX-RN exam to become a Licensed Registered Nurse.

The Nursing program though private is approved by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Insurance, and Florida Board of Nursing.

9. Fortis College

Fortis College is located at Orange Park, Jacksonville. The school is much more than the average career school in Florida. The college offers a Practical Nursing program and an associate degree in Nursing program which serves as an entry-level into your career. Upon the program completion, the student will be able to take the licensure exam to become a Registered Nurse. 

Fortis College in Orange Park, FL was formerly known as North Florida Institute before joining the network of FORTIS Colleges and Institutes.

10. Jersey College Nursing School- Jacksonville Campus

The nursing school at Jersey College is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education and offers a Practical Nursing Program for those seeking to become an LPN and a Professional Nursing (RN) Program for aspiring registered nurses. In the school, you will build the skills and competencies necessary to apply for licensure as an RN, including classroom theory, challenging assignments, skill labs, and local clinical experiences.

It’s certainly obvious that there are plenty of opportunities available in Jacksonville Florida. However, to give yourself the chance of getting a high-paying nursing job and an undisputed practical nursing experience, you will want to earn a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree first, from an accredited nursing school then, your journey begins. So, I wish you all the best!

Conclusion

These nursing schools in Jacksonville offer some of the best programs you can find in this interesting subject area around the U.S. While their programs are replete with practical teachings and their facilities are stocked with modern equipment, they still lie behind top universities in the world.

However, if you’re seeking an environment wherein you can readily learn to nurse at the highest levels, then you’re surely in the right environment.

Recommendation