Saint Leo University, in partnership with AdventHealth, addresses Florida's nursing shortage through a collaborative approach, backed by a significant state grant. This initiative not only provides hands-on training for aspiring nurses like Grace and Emily but also fosters a local workforce, shaping the future of healthcare in Florida.
Saint Leo University is working hand –in hand with AdventHealth to train the next generation of nurses in Florida. A recent partnership between the two institutions aims to tackle the nursing shortage expected to hit the state by 2035. The Saint Leo nursing program is backed by a $740,000 grant from the state of Florida's 2023-2024 budget, with the goal of adding 200 professional nurses to Florida's workforce.
AdventHealth and Saint Leo partnered for a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) which provides students the opportunity to work as team members. The first Dedicated Education Unit model at AdventHealth Zephyrhills serves as a critical pipeline for future nurses in Florida.
Grace Lundfelt and Emily Gray, two of Saint Leo University's first nursing students, are driven by a desire to make a positive impact on patients' lives. As part of their training, they work alongside nurse mentors at AdventHealth Zephyrhills, further building their skills and expertise.
Kim Friedmeyer, nursing education manager at AdventHealth Zephyrhills, emphasized the importance of recruiting and training nursing students who live close to the hospital, increasing the likelihood that they will join the AdventHealth team upon graduation. Lundfelt and Gray both expressed interest in exploring job opportunities at AdventHealth Zephyrhills after completing their studies at Saint Leo.
With Florida experiencing a significant nursing shortage, community-driven partnerships like the one between Saint Leo University and AdventHealth play a crucial role in shaping the future of health care in the Sunshine State. The collaboration demonstrates the university's commitment to ensuring students receive valuable, hands-on training and showcases the dedication to investing in health care professionals within the local community.
Saint Leo University offers a highly competitive, comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. The four-year program focuses on a "simple to complex" curriculum, combining foundational courses in professional nursing with specialized topics like acute care, population and global health, and chronic care and ELNEC (End-of-Life-Care) and palliative nursing concepts, ensuring students receive well-rounded training in various aspects of nursing practice.
Our nursing program is designed to provide students with hands-on experience through lab work, simulation, preceptorships, and clinical placements in health care and community settings, ultimately preparing graduates for a smooth transition into the nursing workforce. The limited-access program requires a specific application process such as a 3.30 or better GPA, satisfactorily completing required non-nursing courses, and achieving a recommended composite score of 78 or greater on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam.
Graduates of Saint Leo University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program are eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses, leading to both entry-level employment and potential career advancement opportunities in the health care industry.
To learn more about Saint Leo University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program, its application process, and more, please visit our nursing program webpage.
To learn more about Saint Leo University's partnership with AdventHealth and its impact on the nursing community in Florida, be sure to check out the featured article and broadcast on Spectrum Bay News 9.