In an attempt to relieve Florida’s shortage of nurses, Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that nearly $80 million will be awarded to the state’s highest-performing post-secondary nursing education programs. The funding rewards are intended to be used as matching funds for scholarships, facility recruitment, equipment, and additional education support.
The funding is made to a total of 27 schools, including the College of Central Florida through the state’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) programs.
“These awards will meet a critical need of our state by ensuring we continue to have high-quality nursing graduates and by creating new opportunities for Floridians interested in healthcare,” DeSantis said while announcing the funding.
Specifically, a total of $19 million is awarded through the LINE fund. It may be used to award scholarships to students who meet in-state tuition residency requirements, recruit additional faculty, purchase equipment, and support simulation centers to advance high-quality nursing education programs throughout Florida.
Through the PIPELINE program, $20 million has been distributed to school districts with licensed practical nursing programs, and $40 million has been given to Florida College System institutions with licensed practical nursing and registered nursing programs.
The Governor’s office said that the funding awards are based on the schools’ completion rate and passage rates for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination (NCLEX).
