About The School of Nursing
Our purpose is to prepare exceptional nurses by creating a dynamic atmosphere where intellectual leaders are prepared to assume advanced roles as esteemed members of the Health Care team in order to improve delivery of health care and scientific knowledge underpinning evidence-based, culturally appropriate nursing practice to the residents of the state, the nation, and the world. Our focus will be on educating quality individual practitioners rather than quantities of students.
Dean's Welcome
Welcome to the Florida A&M University School of Nursing!
I am delighted to welcome you to the Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Nursing. Whether you are beginning your journey toward becoming a nurse or returning to advance your education, you have made an important decision about your future. We are pleased that you have chosen FAMU to help you reach your goals.
This is a particularly special time to join our school as we celebrate 90 years of nursing education excellence. Since 1936, the FAMU School of Nursing has prepared generations of nurses who have made a difference in the lives of patients, families, and communities. As the oldest baccalaureate nursing program in Florida, we take pride in our history, but we are equally excited about what lies ahead. You are now part of that story.
A Legacy That Includes You
When you become a FAMU nursing student, you join a community of graduates whose careers reflect the values of service, leadership, and compassionate care. Our alumni work in hospitals, clinics, schools, universities, and communities across the country and beyond. Many have become advanced practice nurses, educators, researchers, and healthcare leaders. Their accomplishments remind us of what is possible with a strong educational foundation, hard work, and determination. As you move through your program, I encourage you to think about the contributions you want to make and the kind of nurse you hope to become.
Our 90th anniversary also gives us an opportunity to recognize those who helped build this school and invest in those who will carry it forward. Through our 90th Anniversary Decades Challenge, we invite alumni and supporters to help expand scholarships, strengthen student support, and create new opportunities for future generations of Rattler nurses.
Your Success Is Our Priority
Nursing school is both rewarding and demanding. There will be moments when you feel confident in your abilities and others when you are challenged to work harder, think differently, or step outside your comfort zone. Each experience is part of your development as a nurse.
Our responsibility is to provide you with a quality education and an environment where you can learn, grow, and succeed. You will work with faculty who bring clinical experience, professional expertise, and a commitment to teaching. You will also have opportunities to learn alongside your classmates, engage with the community, and apply what you have learned in real healthcare settings.
I encourage you to take an active role in your education. Ask questions, seek guidance when you need it, participate in school activities, and take advantage of opportunities that will help you grow personally and professionally. Most importantly, remember that you do not have to navigate this journey alone.
Preparing You for a Changing Profession
The nursing profession you are entering is changing. Advances in technology, artificial intelligence, new approaches to patient care, and the growing needs of our communities are shaping how nurses practice. At the same time, the profession continues to depend on something technology cannot replace: the ability to care for people with compassion, sound judgment, and respect.
At FAMU, we want you to graduate prepared for both the science and the human side of nursing. Through classroom instruction, simulation, clinical experiences, research, and community engagement, you will learn to make informed decisions, work effectively with healthcare teams, and care for patients from different backgrounds and life experiences.
We also want you to recognize that your education can take you in many directions. Some of you will provide direct patient care, while others will pursue advanced practice, education, research, administration, or other leadership opportunities. Whatever path you choose, our goal is to help you build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue it.
Making the Most of Your FAMU Experience
Your years at FAMU will be about more than completing courses and earning a degree. They will be a time to discover your strengths, develop lasting relationships, and establish the professional values that will guide your career.
I ask you to approach your education with purpose. Be accountable for your learning, treat others with dignity and respect, remain open to feedback, and never lose sight of the people who will one day depend on your care.
I also encourage you to become involved in the life of the school. Get to know your faculty, support your classmates, participate in student organizations, and share your ideas. Your voice matters, and your experiences help us continue to improve the educational environment for everyone.
Welcome to the Rattler Nursing Family
As Dean, one of my greatest privileges is watching students grow from their first days in the program to the moment they graduate, ready to take the next step in their careers. I look forward to celebrating your accomplishments and seeing the difference you will make in the lives of others.
As we mark our 90th anniversary, I hope you will take pride in the history of this school while recognizing that its future is being shaped by students like you. Thank you for choosing the Florida A&M University School of Nursing. We are glad you are here, we believe in your potential, and we look forward to supporting you throughout your journey.
Warm regards,
Shannon Bright Smith, PhD, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNE, FAAN
Dean and Professor
Florida A&M University School of Nursing
The School of Nursing Past and Present
Know what we're all about...
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The Florida A&M University School of Nursing is the oldest continuing baccalaureate nursing program in the United States at a historically black institution.
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The Florida A&M University School of Nursing is an approved program by the State of Florida.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Nursing is congruent with the mission of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University:
Our mission is to create a student-centered environment where knowledgeable, innovative, caring nurses can apply high quality, culturally appropriate care to meet the health needs of the residents of the state, the nation, and the global community and to advance the science of nursing through research and practice with a vision encompassing a respectful commitment to our communities and stakeholders.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Nursing
is congruent with the vision of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University:
Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Nursing will be internationally recognized as a premier land grant and research program committed to exemplary teaching, research, and service preparing transformational graduates with high ethical values dedicated to solving complex issues impacting our global society.
Philosophy
The philosophy of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Nursing is congruent with the philosophy of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University:
The faculty of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Nursing understands their role in expanding and developing new knowledge for clinical practice and preparing the next generation of nursing leaders. As such, they consider their roles as educators and practitioners important in educating the next generation of nurses to have the skills and knowledge to use research-based care in their daily clinical practice.
Core Values
The core values of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Nursing is congruent with the philosophy of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University:
Scholarship, Excellence, Openness, Fiscal Responsibility, Accountability, Collaboration, Diversity, Service, Fairness, Courage, Integrity, Respect, Collegiality, Freedom, Ethics and Shared Governance.