Off-campus clinical experiences have always been a critical part of the curriculum at the Florida State University College of Nursing.
While the hands-on, practical clinical experience gained is immeasurable, the required travel places our students under unique financial burdens to pay for gas, meals and lodging—from overnight to six-week stays—as well as incur mileage on their vehicles.
To help combat these costs, students have shared hotel rooms for their weekend-long required rotation at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville. Expenses over the weekend can add up to $200 - $400 for lodging, meals, and gas. Previously, students shared the lease on a short-term apartment during their clinical placement at Tampa General Hospital. With your support, students will have fewer financial obstacles and can focus on developing the important skills needed to deliver the best possible care as professional nurses.
Much of the FSU College of Nursing’s success is a direct result of the generosity of individuals like you who support its programs, experiences and initiatives. Your gift will help nursing students by offsetting the expenses of clinical-related travel, allowing them to gain crucial experiences that will have a lasting and significant impact on their nursing futures.
More about Student Clinical Experiences
Clinical experiences are important because they provide students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to authentic, real-world problems in a variety of health care settings.
“I often think of a couple of unique clinical experiences that have shaped my nursing career even today. One was car travel with faculty and classmates in caravan to the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee—this being a challenging clinical experience because of the nature of the patients. I was glad that I had the support of faculty along with us on this ride. We would use the time to prepare for our clinical experiences.”
—Kathleen W., BSN ΚΌ78
Where Our Students Learn
First and second semesters: Community health rotation—regional clinical sites and local health departments in Tallahassee.
Third semester: Pediatrics rotation—Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville. Other regional clinical sites can include Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, GA and Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee for the psychiatric mental health rotation.
Final semester: Six-week internship at one of the following clinical sites: Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola; Wolfson Children’s Hospital or Baptist Health in Jacksonville; Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, GA; Tampa General Hospital; Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System; Florida Hospital Orlando, Orlando Health or Orlando Regional Medical Center.
For more information about the College of Nursing, please visit nursing.fsu.edu.