Today, a USF College of Nursing degree is much more than just listening to lectures and studying textbooks. It’s real-world and out-of-classroom simulations of healthcare issues and emergencies. It’s opportunities to learn and work with practitioners around the world. It’s taking healthcare resources and care to patients in their workplace and in their communities. It’s providing health care to the underserved and realizing what we provide won’t always be the same in every situation. It’s understanding our students represent many cultures and lifestyles and may not be the typical undergraduate or graduate student. It’s recognizing our students will use their own experiences, their own stories and skills to meet patient health-care challenges and welcoming this interaction. And, it’s leveraging the technology we have at hand to look ahead to provide better healthcare for our future. 

Never before have I felt so fortunate to be a part of the lives of these, our next generation of scientists, teachers, nurses and advanced practitioners. Nursing science, evidence-based clinical practice, and our academic-practice partnerships continue to evolve and ensure our students will and can provide the very best in patient care -- both in traditional clinic and non-traditional off-site settings.

Our nursing students serve those who may not otherwise have access to routine  -- or even the most basic -- healthcare. Our outreach efforts with the Salvation Army provide all-important after-care and follow-ups to homeless individuals who have been discharged from hospitals. Our partnerships with Port Tampa Bay and the Tampa Port Ministries provide on-site needed physical care to global seafarers upon their return to land. Our Mo-Bull Medical Nurse Clinic, staffed by students and nurse practitioners, brings healthcare wherever it is needed to whoever needs it. And through our global programs in Colombia, Scotland and the U.S. Virgin Islands, we have created clinical and research opportunities for students to further broaden their experiences wherever their specialties take them.

And the College of Nursing has a place for you! With almost 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students across three campuses (Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee), we are one of the largest nursing schools in the state. And we continue to grow! To combat the ongoing nursing shortage, we are expanding our undergraduate program, increasing our physical footprint and boosting enrollment. We fully believe our faculty, staff and students should be active partners with and advocates for their patients and as such are actively engaged in identifying and providing new on-and-off campus learning and care opportunities.

When our students walk across that stage at graduation and step off into the world, they are ready for anything. Our students truly are the best.

Please take the time to explore our website. Take the opportunity to read more about our programs and services and discover why we are so passionate about our students – and their future. Come visit us and see in person all we have to offer and meet our amazing faculty and staff who work to inspire us all.

As Dean, I am so proud to be a part of USF and USF Health College of Nursing and can’t wait for you to join us! GO BULLS!

Sincerely,

Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, FSBM
Dean and Distinguished University Health Professor
Senior Associate Vice President, USF Health

Trailblazing Nursing is a podcast sponsored by the University of South Florida College of Nursing. Hosted by Usha Menon, Dean of the College of Nursing and Senior Associate Vice President at USF Health. Each month, we’ll bring you a 15-minute discussion on current topics in nursing, talking with your colleagues and experts from across the world!