Telegraph Staff Writer
STARKE— Santa Fe College was one of 27 colleges and school districts to receive state grants totaling $19 million to fund nursing education programs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office said a total of $79 million was awarded to school districts and post-secondary nursing programs for matching funds for scholarship awards, faculty recruitment, equipment and additional educational support.
“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 in a news release. “I am grateful to the colleges and universities who have gone above and beyond to train the next generation of nurses in our state.”
To qualify for some of the $19 million allocated to the Linking-Industry-to-Nursing-Education grants, institutions had to have a completion rate of at least 70% for certified nursing assistant programs and a 70% passing rate for first-time National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination for licensed practical nurse, associate of science in nursing and bachelor of science in nursing programs.
The governor’s office said $60 million in grants were awarded under the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education program.
Those awards: $20 million for licensed practical nurse programs and $40 million for registered nurse programs are based on the number of students completing nursing programs and passing rates on professional licensing exams.
