Florida cuts nursing school budgets

U.S.A. Florida

Published

http://include.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/FL02/109080114

I found this interesting article from this year. Its interesting to see how the various Central florida schools are not getting the funding they need to supply the state with much needed nurses. The writer made a good point, we need to increase capacity not decrease them. I think its weird that we need nurses here but they are cutting the needed supply that the schools can produce via funding and then also on the immigration front, international nurses cant help the shortage because of retrogression. I wonder how all this is gonna play out, especially for us Floridian nurses.

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Yep, I discovered this a few months ago as I have USF's Nursing page bookmarked as I have been mulling over the pros and cons re the ABSN. I checked their site one day and discovered to my surprise that the ABSN summer class had been cancelled and that applicants were being referred to the Fall date.

Needless to say that this compeitive program overnight became more competive. This cemented the decision for me to go ASN and then bridge to the BSN.

It is my prediction that nursing schools in State run colleges/universities will be harder to get in due to decrease funding and less seats.

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Yeah, I know. Its really unbelievable. Its definitely a pickle.

But I should probably give you a heads up about the ASN programs. They are also competitive but probably not as bad as the BSN programs. Initially, I was considering the accelerated 2nd degree BSN programs but the wait times, GPA requirements and seat limit was ridiculous. You'd feel like you're applying to med school, thats how rigorous the process was. I called around and finally took a chance on one ASN program and I was admitted without much fuss or delay. Definitely check the wait times for the school you plan to apply to. I totally skipped a local college that had a wait time of 2 years and instead applied to and got into a college that was in a different county. Definitely worth the drive :)

I definitely agree with your prediction. Before it used to be all about not enough MSN educators but now it seems that the lack of funding is the prevailing issue. A news outlet not long ago was suggesting to those with employment issues to seek employment in one of the top 10 careers, one of which they listed as nursing. I thought it was sorta ridiculous because if there is a horde of people applying to nursing programs, the waiting list will be just as bad as retrogression for international nurses. Plus there would not be enough educators to accomadate the amount of students applying. In addition, with the lack of funding colleges are getting for their programs, its really a moot suggestion. I mean, nursing is a passion not a last resort!

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It's sad to say but when it comes to education, Florida always seems to lack. Look at our public school system. Every time you turn on the TV or read the paper another school program is being cut due to budget problems. Then they turn around and say "Children are our Future", could have fooled me!!!

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All of you guys are so correct. If the policy makers were educators, there just maybe a different attitude to all the budget cuts going on in the education of our futures - children!! So instead of educating the future generation, they are more inclined to lined their pockets for the future:cry:

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