Graduates of Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing are entering the workforce at a critical time in Florida. It is estimated the state will be short 31,000 nurses by 2035, with 23% of nurses retiring by 2027. Compounding this shortage is data showing 21% of the U.S. population will be aged 65 or older by 2030, increasing the demand for nursing professionals as people age.
NSU is at the forefront of the health care provider workforce challenge. When it comes to producing needed nursing professionals, the university has produced more than 8,100 nurses since 2012, and these graduates are workforce-ready, demonstrated most recently by their pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). NSU students taking the exam for the first time passed at 90 percent, exceeding Florida’s average pass rate of 84.9 percent.
“Our graduates are once again proving that the nursing program curriculum and clinical experience provided at Nova Southeastern University is truly preparing them for their essential roles as health care professionals,” said Stefanie La Manna, dean and associate professor at the College of Nursing.
Data shows Florida’s population demographics are skewing older, and the state is facing an inflection point where the demand for nurses will outpace supply, creating ripple effects through communities across the state.
“As demand for licensed nurses continues to grow, nursing students must graduate prepared for the real world and with skills and experience needed to succeed as industry professionals,” said La Manna. “At NSU, our BSN graduates are doing just that.”
Such is the case with NSU alum and 2015 BSN graduate Makaeda Ellis, currently an ER Nurse at Memorial West Hospital. “At NSU, I was a step ahead of the other nursing programs,” she said. “I’ve heard nurses saying, ‘Those NSU students, they know what they are doing, they know their stuff.’ And it’s true. With NSU, the time you put in will show in the end. You will shine.”
To learn more about NSU’s nursing program, visit our College of Nursing website.
