Nursing is an Associate Degree program (Hybrid) offered by Fortis College in Port St Lucie, FL. The program takes 96 weeks to complete, with a total cost, including fees, of $50,836.
Program Overview
Fortis College's nursing program prepares students for a career as a registered nurse (RN). It combines classroom instruction, hands-on skills labs, and supervised clinical experience, grounded in critical thinking, the nursing process, therapeutic communication, and holistic, patient-centered care.
Students study anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and health assessment, along with medical-surgical, maternal-newborn, pediatric, mental-health, and community nursing, and develop leadership and professional skills. Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which is required to obtain a license to practice as a registered nurse.
What sets this Program apart
- Earn an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing.
- Classroom, skills-lab, and supervised clinical training across medical-surgical, maternal-newborn, pediatric, and mental-health nursing.
- Prepares graduates to apply to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.
- Hybrid delivery — general-education and some nursing coursework online, with labs and clinicals on-campus and at clinical sites.
- Accredited by ABHES.
General Requirements
- A high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, with documentation. Foreign credentials must be translated into English and evaluated as equivalent or higher by a NACES-member…
- You must be at least 17 years old when your program of study starts.
- Complete an applicant information form and interview with an admissions advisor or other administrative staff.
- Achieve the minimum required score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). A passing score is valid for three years.
- Meet all financial obligations and complete the tuition payment requirements.
- Sign the Fortis enrollment agreement once accepted.
Application Process
- 1Speak to an admissions advisorEvery applicant is assigned an admissions advisor who explains the curriculum and policies and books the interviews you need.
- 2Submit your documentationProvide proof of high school completion and complete the applicant information form. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure Fortis receives every required document.
- 3Sit the Wonderlic SLETake the Scholastic Level Exam and reach this program’s published minimum. Accommodations must be requested under the catalog’s policy — campus staff cannot approve them.
- 4Financial aidFortis participates in federal student aid including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, PLUS Loans and Federal Work-Study. File the FAFSA and meet the campus financial aid office.FAFSA Code for Fortis Institute in Port St. Lucie: 038363Complete FAFSA Application
- 5Sign the enrollment agreementAdmission decisions weigh your fulfilment of the requirements, your previous educational records and your career interests.
Program Schedule
Clinical times are scheduled based on the availability of clinical sites and may occur during daytime hours, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
The Associate of Science in Nursing is 106 quarter credits (1,500 contact hours), completed in about 96 instructional weeks (flex schedule up to 144 weeks), in a hybrid format. Licensed Practical Nurses may be awarded up to 23 quarter credits of block credit.
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited program means your education has met independently reviewed quality standards designed to protect students.
Fortis Institute in Port St. Lucie holds institutional accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The associate degree nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates are eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Eligible for federal Title IV financial aid
- Independently reviewed against published standards
- Recognised by employers in the field
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Fortis Institute in Port St. Lucie Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
The total program cost of $55,976 covers tuition plus the required fees and materials below:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $50,836 |
| Administrative & technology fee | $520 |
| Student kit | $151 |
| Certification / licensure exam | $310 |
| Laptop computer | $1,098 |
| Background check | $197 |
| Drug screen | $80 |
| Books & e-books | $2,250 |
| Reference books | $534 |
| Total program cost | $55,976 |
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Fortis participates in federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans for parents, and Federal Work-Study. Complete the FAFSA and speak with the campus financial aid office to learn what you are eligible for.
Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Clock Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHP216 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 80 | 6 |
| AHP217 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 80 | 6 |
| BIO101 | General Biology | 60 | 5 |
| BIO205 | Microbiology | 60 | 4 |
| CMP105 | Introduction to Informatics | 20 | 2 |
| COM205 | Effective Communication | 40 | 4 |
| ENG101 | English Composition | 40 | 4 |
| MAT101 | College Mathematics | 40 | 4 |
| NUR100 | Pharmacology | 50 | 5 |
| NUR101 | Health Assessment | 50 | 4 |
| NUR104 | Foundations of Nursing | 150 | 8 |
| NUR201 | Medical-Surgical Nursing I | 180 | 9 |
| NUR202 | Maternal-Newborn Nursing | 60 | 4 |
| NUR203 | Pediatric Nursing | 60 | 4 |
| NUR204 | Leadership and Management | 20 | 2 |
| NUR206 | Community Nursing Concepts | 20 | 2 |
| NUR208 | Mental Health Nursing | 60 | 4 |
| NUR209 | Medical-Surgical Nursing II | 160 | 8 |
| NUR210 | Transition to Practice – Capstone | 120 | 6 |
| PSY101 | General Psychology | 40 | 4 |
| PSY278 | Human Growth and Development | 40 | 4 |
| SCI115 | Fundamentals of Human Nutrition | 30 | 3 |
| SOC101 | Sociology | 40 | 4 |
| Total | 1500 | 106 |
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment as registered nurses in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, and other healthcare settings.
Upon graduation, students are eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), passage of which is required to obtain a license to practice nursing. Graduation from the program does not guarantee eligibility to sit for the state licensure examination in this or any other state.
What to expect as a Fortis student
Fortis is a career-focused college. The Nursing program follows a set, sequenced schedule combining classroom instruction, hands-on skills labs, and supervised clinical rotations at partner healthcare sites.
Clinical rotations may be scheduled during days, evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays based on site availability, so plan for a variable clinical schedule. Progression requires meeting the nursing department's academic and clinical standards.