SPC President Tonjua Williams and Polk State College President Angela Falconetti talk about why it is the right time to expand nursing education programs and why institutions should take bold steps to address the short- and long-term nursing shortage.
There is a need to expand nursing education programs. Last summer, the Florida Healthcare Association commissioned a report that painted a bleak picture, projecting that 14 years from now, our state will lack 59,100 nurses, including 37,400 registered nurses (RN) and 21,700 licensed practical nurses (LPN).
Over the past two years, each of us has witnessed firsthand how vital our health care workers and first responders are to the well-being of the entire state. This is why we stand with fellow presidents from the Florida College System (FCS) Council of Presidents — comprised of leadership from each of the state’s 28 colleges — to encourage our statewide elected leaders to prioritize funding to provide a sustainable solution for quality nursing care. The Council of Presidents proudly provides strategic leadership to ensure that the door of higher education not only remains open but also leads to a path of completion and meaningful employment, advancing the priorities of the Florida Colleges System and thereby meeting the needs of the citizens of this state.
The two leaders created a bold five-part solution to address the short- and long-term nursing shortage:
- Faculty Recruitment and Retention
- Patient Simulation Facilities
- Clinicals
- Articulation
- Public/Private Partnerships
In addition to needed funding to address the nursing challenge, the FCS Council of Presidents is committed to supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ goal of accelerating Florida to become No. 1 in the workforce by 2030. To that end, the FCS Council of Presidents is working with our state’s elected leaders.
Read more about the presidents’ plan to combat the nursing shortage.