According to an article in Forbes on September 26, 2012 by Jacquelyn Smith – Forbes Staff, the University of South Florida was rated 8^th in the Nation in The 10 Best Colleges to Work For by an annual survey conducted by Glassdoor an online jobs and career community where people share information and opinions about the places where they’re employed.  The article in Forbes discusses the nature of this annual survey, summarized in a quote by a Glassdoor spokesperson below:

“Each year, several reports offer insight into how universities compare as academic institutions for students to attend, but this annual report is unique because it’s the only one of its kind purely based on what employees have to say,” says Glassdoor spokesperson Samantha Zupan. “With education reform a hot topic in the presidential race, it’s timely to see what university employees have to say, from professors to administrative staff, about the benefits and downsides of working at various universities across the nation.”

No. 1 Brigham Young University

No. 2 California Institute of Technology

No. 3 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

No. 4 University of Delaware

No. 5 Carnegie Mellon

No. 6 Texas A&M

No. 7 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

No. 8 University of South Florida - Go Bulls!

No. 9 University of California, Berkeley

No. 10 University of Utah

Original Story The 10 Best Colleges to Work For posted by Forbes

WUSF story USF Ranked 8th Best College for Employees by Mark Schreiner

The University of South Florida College of Nursing has four undergraduate courses that are  currently open for registration by any interested USF student. Each are 3 credit hours and are web-based, perfect for that elective course you have to take! Register now and learn in an inter-professional environment with nursing students.

These exciting new courses can apply to any undergraduate student interested in learning about healthcare issues like: quality improvement & patient safety, vulnerable populations, or military & veteran health. In addition, there is a course on developing web based course materials.

NSP3880: Foundations of Quality Improvement & Patient Safety

Course Overview: Provides foundational principles, concepts and methods for promoting and improving healthcare quality and patient safety at the micro-, meso-, and macro-system levels with a focus on application at the micro-system level.

• Background and historical perspective on healthcare quality and patient safety
•  Foundational principles and concepts of healthcare quality improvement and patient safety
•  Quality improvement methods and processes
• Patient safety improvement

NUR 3678: Nursing Healthcare for Vulnerable Populations

Course Overview: The course focuses on the cultural aspects of providing health-related care through experiential analysis of a selected program designed to serve a vulnerable population either here or abroad

• Assume responsibility for professional growth through the design of an individualized clinical proposal for vulnerable populations.
• Use theoretical concepts, research findings, and other ways of knowing to guide the creation of an individualized clinical project proposal.
• Integrate critical thinking skills into the practice of professional nursing by developing an individualized clinical project proposal.
• Participate in an informed critique

NSP 3147:  Web Based Education for Staff Development

Course Overview: This course provides the learner with the knowledge and skills to facilitate the development of web-based educational materials for nursing and healthcare staff.

• Web-Based Education Definition
• Review of Learning Theories/Styles
• Online Teaching Strategies
• Instructional Design Models
• Internet Authoring and Deployment Tools
• Educational resources on the internet
• Storyboarding
• Assessment

NSP 3640:  Introduction to Military and Veteran Health

Course Overview: This course will provide an introduction to the military/veteran culture and the healthcare needs and concerns related to this unique population.

• Apply the knowledge gained regarding the unique healthcare needs of the veteran population into their nursing practice both in the veteran medical system as well as the general population.
• Describe the continuum of care from battlefield/point of injury to home.
• Recognize the dynamics of the military family and their role in the care of veterans.
• Recognize the unique healthcare needs of women in the military.

The University of South Florida College of Nursing has opened general registration for Spring 2012 semester for its course “Introduction to Military and Veteran Health”—NSP 3640.

This is a great elective for any USF student who is interested in learning more about the unique healthcare needs of our military and veteran population.

Register now as seats are expected to fill quickly!

Introduction to Military and Veteran Health is an eight module online course that highlights many of the unique healthcare needs of our military and veteran population.  The course starts with an overview of our veteran population, the culture of the military, the evolution of veteran healthcare, the military family, and will then discuss health related topics such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), polytrauma, women veteran health issues, and military sexual trauma (MST).

To view a video preview of the course – Click Here

Approximately 1.6 million of the nation’s 23 million veterans live in the state of Florida.  With roughly 70% of veterans currently seeking medical care outside of VA system, it is imperative that all healthcare providers have an understanding of who our military and veteran population is and the different healthcare needs of this population.  This course is designed to prepare you with valuable insights and skills needed to recognize the unique healthcare needs of the military, veterans and their families, and ensure they receive the best care possible.  You will be in great demand in the front lines of healthcare to support those who served on the front lines in the military!

• The Course is 3 credit hours, and will follow the USF Academic Calendar.
• If you are not admitted as a USF student you may take the course as a non-degree seeking student.
• Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for the process to apply as a non-degree seeking student (813-974-3350)
• USF tuition and fees apply
• If you are a veteran interested in taking courses at USF, please visit the USF Vereran’s Services website or contact them directly at (813) 974-2291.
• If you are an RN interested in this course as part of a degree seeking program at USF please view our RN to BS program brochure
• If you are interested in auditing this course please view the  USF policy in the current USF Undergraduate Catalog (page 34).

This course was the subject of a recent story by Howard Altman of the Tampa Tribune USF course aids health providers with vets’ care

-RESTORE LIVES at USF-

Through ‘RESTORE LIVES AT USF: Education and Research to Rehabilitate and Restore the Lives of Veterans, Service Members and their Families’, USF College of Nursing faculty develop life enhancing treatments through nursing research, and educate nurses with the knowledge and skills specific to the needs of the military, veterans and their families. The ART study is an example of type of innovative research that the USF College of Nursing is developing to improve the health of our honored service members and veterans.