NURSF:BSN - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Foreign Educated Physician

Specialized Admissions Requirements for the Combined BSN/MSN for Foreign-Educated Physicians Accelerated Degree Pathway

The Combined BSN/MSN program is a pathway for foreign-educated physicians (FEPs) from culturally diverse backgrounds to:

--obtain the BSN degree

--become Registered Nurses (RNs)

--attain the MSN degree

--become eligible to take the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (APRN) or Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) national certification exam

The combined BSN/MSN Degree Pathway is an accelerated program that builds upon the knowledge and skills of the social and physical sciences from a prior BS degree. It is comprised of 60 upper division credits  and 35-45 graduate credits (depending on program selection and/or StopOut Option), totaling 95-108 credit hours. Admission to the MSN component is contingent upon meeting the MSN admission requirements.

The Combined BSN/MSN Degree Pathway for Foreign Educated Physician Program is a specialized admissions status program; and therefore, admission is competitive based on previous academic performance, utilizing a holistic student approach, and additional criteria for entry into the BSN Program. A criterion-based point system is used for the admission evaluation of applicants to the Combined BSN/MSN Degree Pathway for Foreign-Educated Physician Program.

To be admitted to the combined BSN/MSN Degree Pathway program, students must: 

(1) Have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA;

(2) Applicant cannot have previously obtained an RN license.

(3) Have completed a medical degree from an accredited non-US university;

(4) Have transcripts evaluated by Josef Silny & Associates or by an equivalent transcript evaluation company;

(5) Applicants from non-English speaking countries, including internationally educated American students, must demonstrate proficiency in English. Applicants that attended undergraduate institutions that do not teach in English must also meet this requirement, even if the institution is located within the United States. Applicants must meet the FIU University Graduate School English-Language proficiency requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, ENC 1101 and ENC 1102, AA or BA from a U.S. school). Please note that this applies to all applicants with foreign MD credentials except English Proficiency Test Exempt Countries.

(6) Meet nursing entry requirements for computation and reading skills; 

(7) Meet the admission criteria to be admitted to the University and to the College of Nursing and Health Sciences; and

(8) Successfully complete the following nursing prerequisites (with grade of ‘C’ or above): statistics, human growth & development across the life span, human nutrition, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, chemistry. Transcripts will be evaluated by NWCNHS.

(9) Prerequisites must be completed within the last 10 years. If older than 10 years, then prerequisites must be repeated.

(10) The Florida Board of Nursing and clinical agencies require the disclosure of arrest and conviction records for misdemeanors and/or felonies; therefore, this information will be required at the time of application. Applicants are required to submit to criminal background checks and drug testing. Expenses associated with background checks and drug testing (including repeat testing) are the responsibility of the student. Findings may affect a student’s ability to participate in clinical experiences and complete the program, and/or obtain registered nurse licensure.

(11) Upon admission into the BSN/MSN program, students will be provided with a plan of study for the area of concentration/pathway selected.

To advance to the MSN component of this program, (Semesters V-VIII), students must:

(1) Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above for Semesters I to IV; and

(2) Be licensed as a Florida Registered Nurse (RN) by the end of Semester V.

See Other Curricular Offerings.

See Other Curricular Offerings.

Combined BSN/MSN for Foreign-Educated Physician Accelerated Degree Pathway

Degree Conferrals

Students enrolled in the MSN component must apply to graduate with the BSN during the 4th week of semester VI; BSN degree will be posted at the end of semester VI. Students will graduate with the MSN at the end of semester VIII.

BSN Stop-Out Options

(1) Low GPA Stop-out Option: Students with <3.2 cumulative GPA for Semesters I to IV will take NUR 4636C (Care of Communities: Community Health Nursing, 2 credits) and NUR 4945L (Senior Clinical Practicum, 4 credits) in Semester V OR VI. BSN degree will be awarded at the end of semester V or semester VI depending on clinical space availability of NUR 4945L. Students must apply for graduation of the BSN component by the 4th week of the semester they intend to graduate.

(2) Failure to Pass NCLEX Stop-out Option: Students not passing NCLEX-RN (on the first attempt) by the end of Semester V will take NUR 4945L (Senior Clinical Practicum, 4 credits) in Semester VI. BSN degree will be awarded at the end of Semester VI. Students must apply for graduation of the BSN component by the 4th week of the semester they intend to graduate.

(3) Stop out students will graduate with BSN and will be discontinued from the combined BSN-MSN Degree Pathway.

MSN Progression

MSN Level Course Requirements begin in Semester V and vary in length depending on the role specialty plan of study selected (i.e., across semesters V to VII for the Nurse Educator track or V to IX for Nurse Practitioner tracks). Upon admission into the BSN/MSN program, students will be provided with a plan of study for the concentration/pathway selected.

Repeating Nursing Courses and Dismissal

A grade of “C” or higher in all NUR courses and a grade of “B” or higher in all NGR courses is necessary for continuing in the combined BSN/MSN Degree Pathway.  A course in the BSN/MSN Degree Pathway can be repeated only once. If a student fails the same NUR course twice, or two NUR clinical and/or clinical-related courses, or two NGR courses, he/she will be dismissed from the BSN/MSN for FEP track.