Chair's Message
Claudette Spalding, Ph.D., ARNP

On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students, I welcome you to the Division of Nursing, where for over 50 years, we have been the dedicated presence of nursing on the Barry University campus. The Division of Nursing is a part of the College of Health Sciences. We are located in one of the most multicultural areas of the state.  About 75% of our students are from culturally diverse backgrounds.  This gives students an opportunity to learn from others and to become prepared to serve the culturally diverse populations of our state.  With a community-focused curriculum, students are exposed to a number of culturally diverse communities where they can make an impact on the lives of those who have limited access to health care services.

We have many excellent educational programs for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. We have three different tracks to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), including our traditional Basic BSN track for those with a high school degree, our RN-BSN track for RNs with associate degrees who would like to have a bachelor’s degree, and our accelerated BSN track, for students with bachelor’s degrees in disciplines outside of nursing or who have met the liberal arts requirements of a baccalaureate degree.

We have several Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree specializations:  Nurse administrator, nurse educator, acute care nurse practitioner, or family nurse practitioner. In addition we also offer the RN-MSN bridge option for RNs with bachelor’s degrees in disciplines outside of nursing who wish to bridgeinto the MSN program.

Our doctoral degree program consists of the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD), a research focused degree or the Doctor of Nursing Practice  (DNP), a clinical focused degree.

We have one of the largest chapters of the National Student Nursing Association (NSNA) in the state.  This pre-professional organization mentors students preparing for initial licensure as registered nurses, and conveys the standards, ethics, and skills that students will need as responsible and accountable leaders and members of the profession. The Barry University Student Nurses Association chapter participates in a number of community activities that promote healthy lifestyles and improve the lives of others, offering students opportunities for growth as leaders in the community.

Nursing’s honor society is Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI).  Barry University’s Division of Nursing’s chapter is Lambda Chi.  The mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, is to support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing.

One of our strongest assets is the caring environment we provide students.  You will be assigned a faculty advisor and receive one-to-one time with this advisor to plan your educational program of study.  This attention to your educational learning styles, professional goals, and personal aspirations will contribute to your academic success.  If financial aid is a concern, you will be glad to hear that Barry University offers one of the best financial aid packages in the area.

As a student in the Division of Nursing you will have the opportunity to study and work with faculty who set a standard for excellence when it comes to innovative education, quality patient care, and research.  You will have classroom and clinical opportunities, including the Clinical Simulation Lab where students enhance their skills in a risk free learning environment through practice-based, hands-on education, that will contribute to your education and the professional role you will take as a graduate of our program.  Your future in nursing begins here and now.  I invite you to explore our website and learn more about our community of scholars, undergraduate and graduate programs of study, multicultural focused research, and our students. I encourage you to contact us if you have any comments, questions, or would like additional information.  I look forward to seeing you in one of our programs.

Warm regards,

Claudette Spalding