UF College of Nursing draws record incoming class

Press release from UF Health

BY CARLOS MEDINA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When University of Florida classes start Aug. 21, 85 new Bachelor of Science in Nursing students — 60% more than last year — will take their first steps toward becoming nurses.

The 226-student undergraduate class marks the College of Nursing’s largest ever and underscores the college’s impact on the state’s nursing workforce, which has faced shortages since the early 2000s and continues to recover from deep losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Camila Fuentes, who transferred from South Florida to attend the program, it is an opportunity she dreamed about.

“It’s a personal achievement for me, because I visited the University of Florida as part of a STEM class and I knew this is where I wanted to study,” Fuentes said. “Everyone speaks highly of the nursing program. I look forward to taking advantage of this opportunity.”

The expansion brings the total B.S.N. enrollment to 722 students across the college’s traditional, accelerated, and R.N.-to-B.S.N. tracks — and reflects years of planning, resource development, and collaboration with clinical partners throughout the state.

“This is a defining moment in our college’s history,” said Karen Reed, D.H.Sc., M.S.N., R.N., associate dean for academic affairs, undergraduate education, and a clinical associate professor. “Through careful planning and intentional growth, we’ve expanded in a way that preserves our high academic standards while opening doors for more students to become Gator Nurses.”

The milestone comes at a time when health systems across the country face critical nursing shortages. In Florida alone, the Florida Hospital Association estimates the state will be short more than 59,000 nurses by 2035.

That gap has fueled efforts at UF to urgently ramp up nursing education in a sustainable and student-centered way.

“We’re proud to answer the call,” said Shakira Henderson, Ph.D., D.N.P., M.S., M.P.H., the college’s dean and chief nurse executive for UF Health. “In just one year, we expanded with purpose, and now we are welcoming our largest B.S.N. cohort in history. This is a testament to our mission, our momentum, and our unwavering commitment to our students and communities.”

To support the influx of students, the college has invested in additional faculty, advising support, and expanded simulation-lab opportunities. Additionally, students will have access to “Epic Playground,” giving them hands-on practice using Epic, the nation’s leading electronic health record system. This interactive training environment lets future nurses explore real-world charting, documentation, and patient care scenarios, building confidence and skills before stepping into clinical settings.

This year, U.S. News & World Report rated the college’s B.S.N. program among the top 20 best in the nation and No. 1 in Florida.

“Expanding our student body does not mean lowering the bar,” Henderson said. “It means raising the standard for what nursing education can be — reimagined, innovative, and stronger than ever.”

As the fall semester begins, this historic class will start its journey to join a legacy of more than 12,000 Gator Nursing alumni who have carried the college’s values into practice since 1956.

“I know this group will rise to the occasion,” Reed said. “They are not just part of the largest class. They are part of something meaningful, something with purpose. And that’s what nursing is all about.”