SCF Nursing Center of Excellence expands with grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation

The State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota’s Nursing Center of Excellence recently received a $150,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation to support expansion and the growing needs of the local health care workforce for nursing graduates.

“Our community has a significant number of vacant nursing positions, and it will take investment by multiple sectors to reverse this trend,” said Jennifer Johnston, director of community leadership at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “We are proud to partner with State College of Florida, local hospitals, and government to recruit and retain our invaluable health care heroes.”

SCF's nursing program is one of the most accomplished and productive in Florida, offering Associate in Science (ASN) and Bachelor of Science (BSN) degrees in nursing. For the past decade, SCF has maintained the highest average Florida Board of Nursing exam pass rates in the region at 98-100%. Students graduating from SCF’s nursing program are poised to earn almost 150% of the mean income for all occupations in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton metro area.

“We are grateful to Gulf Coast for recognizing the quality of SCF’s nursing program and supporting its growth,” SCF Foundation Executive Director Cassandra Holmes said. “SCF’s Nursing Center of Excellence will continue to help address the critical nursing shortage in our area with quality, high performing and sought-after nurses.”

The college maintains advanced educational facilities, including the only state-of-the-art Medical Technology & Simulation Center on Florida's west coast and a world class faculty. The facilities are made possible through the support of the community, state legislature, local foundations, and the State College of Florida Foundation.

The SCF Foundation connects the community with the college’s outstanding students, faculty and programs to help fund scholarships, learning opportunities and capital improvements. For more information, visit SCF-Foundation.org or call 941-752-5390. For more about the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, visit GulfCoastCF.org.

Submitted by Jamie M. Smith