Florida International University Helps Military Veterans Prepare for Future as Nursing Professionals

Florida International University (FIU) is helping recent veterans, current reservists, and national guard members prepare for a future as nursing professionals. Their Veterans Bachelor of Science in Nursing (VBSN) program was founded in 2013 and opened to service members who trained or served in select military classifications and were discharged in the past two years, or five years for veterans who were employed in civilian healthcare roles as a combat medic, flight medic, or hospital corpsmen.

The VBSN program is part of FIU’s Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences and has seen almost 100 graduates since the program opened. Curriculum is designed for accelerated graduation, and credit is offered through examination for military training when applicable. Graduates of the program are not expected to return to the armed services, although some do, while others choose to transition to civilian life.

The VBSN program is a project sponsored and funded by a grant from the Health Research Services Administration which runs through December. After that point, students in the program will be eligible to transfer into non-military accelerated programs. Students are also assigned a dedicated advisor, program coach, and mentoring from a veteran registered nurse. Dr. Strickland, Dean of the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, tells MiamiTodayNews.com,

“By having a group of veterans come together in a cohort – as classmates – is a real advantage to them after coming out of the military and for adjusting to life as a new nurse.”

To learn more about FIU’s VBSN program, visit here.