USF St. Petersburg Expands Nursing Program to Address Florida's Nurse Shortage

Addressing Florida's Nursing Shortage

• 🎯 Florida faces a significant shortage of nurses, impacting the backbone of its hospital systems.
• 💡 The University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg is expanding its nursing program to attract and retain more graduates in the local workforce.

New Four-Year Nursing Program

• 🚀 USF St. Petersburg will launch a four-year nursing program starting in Fall 2026, in addition to its existing two-year accelerated program.
• 🧠 This expansion aims to engage students directly after high school, fostering a stronger connection to the St. Pete area.
• 🏫 The campus hosted over 100 Pinellas County high schoolers to showcase its proximity to major hospital systems for clinical experience.

Curriculum and Licensure

• 🩺 Students gain skills in patient care, including specialized areas like aortic and pulmonary care.
• 🎓 The curriculum prepares students for the NCLEX licensure exam, which is crucial for becoming registered nurses.
• 📈 USF's nursing program boasts a 97% pass rate for the NCLEX, significantly above the state and national averages.

Future Impact and Goals

• 🏥 By 2035, Florida is projected to be short approximately 59,000 nurses.
• 🌱 The new program hopes to attract individuals committed to staying and working in St. Pete and Pinellas County.
• 🤝 USF partners with local hospitals like Bayfront and All Children's to provide students with valuable real-world experience.