Florida Hospital--"faith-based" school?

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Specializes in ICU, Intermediate Care, Progressive Care.

Reposted from this thread in the pre-nursing students forum. =)

I've been looking at some of the RN-BSN programs around the state of Florida for after I get my Associate's, and one of them is at Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences. If i go through them I can get my Bachelor's in an online program designed for working RNs, and then go on to get a Master's in Anesthesiology.

My question is, Florida Hospital (and the College) is apparently run by the Seventh Day Adventists church. Part of their admissions process (for the Master's at least) is to include in an essay my "reasons for choosing to attend a faith-based institution", and part of the Gen Ed curriculum is to take "DREL 305 Christian Ethics for Nursing and Allied Health (3)

A survey of the ethics of health care for bachelor level allied health professionals and nurses from a Christian perspective. Topics include confidentiality, role fidelity, allocation of scarce resources, paternalism, end of life issues, reproductive issues, AIDs, and genetic manipulation. Weekly grade exercises include closed book assessments, case study postings, and roundtable discussion. An ethics interview and a final paper over personal and professional ethics comprise the core assignments.

As I am Jewish, I am a bit leery of attending a Christian institution that requires a class about Christian standards in healthcare. I'm pretty sure that I would have no problem with any of the ethics they teach, but how much should I expect the Christian aspect to be emphasized? Can the college refuse to admit me if I tell them that I'm not Christian? Or on the contrary, would saying something in the essay to connect my own views with those of the Seventh Day Adventist church to show that despite being a different religion we have a lot in common, etc, help my chances of admission?

I'm just curious to know to what extent being a "faith-based" institution may affect my educational experience if I chose to go there.

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Specializes in SDU, Tele.

Shalom. :) I don't think they could discriminate against you... I thought the same thing when I heard about the school. The best thing you could do is call and ask and be honest about your religion and also why you really want to join the school. After all, Christian ethics are based on Jewish ones so it can't be anything too strange lol. :)

I don't really think they are going to teach *about* Jesus and things like that... I think its something more like being honest and respectful to your neighbor and all that. Again I'd just call/email. Sorry for rambling lol

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Specializes in ICU, Intermediate Care, Progressive Care.

Looking more into Seventh Day Adventists, I don't see much that would conflict with my own religion aside from purely theological matters of Jesus as Messiah. Their facilities are vegetarian, and aside from that, the church advocates following kosher laws including no pork, no shellfish, etc., and they observe the Sabbath on Saturdays as well. According to Wikipedia the SDA church "has been active for over 100 years advocating freedom of religion for all people, regardless of faith."

Definitely a lot to think about. =)

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Specializes in Tele.

There are plenty of other schools that are 1/2 the cost of that school & that are totally online. A lot of the RN-BSN programs are designed with the working RN in mind.

At FIU everything is 100% online, except the excelsior college exams that you take at a pearson testing center, and one return demonstration in a physical assessment class.

and FAU is everything online, without the exams.

something to look in to as well. and no need to think about any religious things :)

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.

I just graduated from FHC's BSN program this past December. My beliefs are Nondenominational Christian & I didn't find that they pushed the Seventh Day Adventist's specific beliefs in any way. I actually found the required religions courses to be quite interesting. It's not geared towards trying to change or raise conflict with one's own personal beliefs at all. They simply teach the foundations of the different religions & how it applies to healthcare. I thought it to be a good thing because of my greater understanding of a person's beliefs, I can now take a more holistic approach in my practice. All of FHC's course work & exams are on line as well...the only thing that isn't is a required 8 hrs shadowing a Dr. or ARNP & a return demo head to toe to the person you shadowed. I really don't think they'd "penalize" anyone for their personal beliefs...several of my courses had students that were either agnostic or didn't believe in God at all. It wasn't an easy program by any means, but I thought it to be a very good program that left me with a greater understanding of what nursing actually is as well as more confidence in myself and my practice.

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Specializes in ICU, Intermediate Care, Progressive Care.

I'm glad to hear you liked their BSN program. My current plan is to work for Fla Hospital for a while, then they will pay for my entire BSN through their school, then I think I'll go on to get my Master's with their school.

Were you working at the same time as doing the online BSN program? If so how did that work out for you? My plan is to work concurrently so I hope I can do it!

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.

Yes, I worked full time while going for my BSN. It was stressful, but doable...I managed to pull my GPA up from a 3.75 to a 3.98 & maintain it. However, I loaded myself with 9-10 credit hrs every single semester...not something I really recommend doing. Lol...in other words, I had no life! A few words of wisdom...I wouldn't combine (double up on) any religions course (Dr. Bursey is excellent, but tough) or world civ with any other courses. I also wouldn't recommend combining pharm with pathophysiology. The capstone course, Seminar, is also better in the full 14 weeks than in the accelerated 7 weeks. It's not so much a difficult course as it is an extremely busy course. Healing Words, Health & Wellbeing, & Aging & Society are great courses to combine with the other core nursing courses. I would also consider it best to take stats the semester before taking Nursing Research. Stats wasn't as bad as it sounds...it wasn't the actual math that was taught, but how to read and understand the various statistical symbols & such. Anyway, hope this helps...all my best to you! :)

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Specializes in LTC, Correctional Nursing.

Wow... the comments I have read here are inspiring me to actually check into this online class with Florida Hospital. I like the idea of the "holistic" approach to nursing. Bring in the field already for 17 years, I would like to know more about other spiritual beliefs and how to incorporate that into my care. People are all different and have different beliefs, and as their advocate, we should know about their spiritual beliefs as well. It really does affect the care that we give them.

Sounds like you have an answer based on the above comments. I would do it if I were you. I don't think that it would be discriminatory at all though (based on above comments). Christian beliefs came from Jewish beliefs... without the Jewish people, there is no Christianity. I can't see them turning you down simply because you are Jewish. And if they observe the same as you, then it should be a plus. (I am thinking that you are a practicing Jew).

Let us know what you decide! I think that I will be looking into this for myself when I get to the point where I can get my BSN. ;-) Thanks!

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