A Season of Growth & Firsts
The College of Nursing is celebrating a season of growth, innovation and firsts.
The College of Nursing welcomed nearly 75 attendees during the inaugural Gator Nurse Supporter Orientation in August. Family members and supporters of the new class took a tour of the college and learned what it means to be a Gator Nurse.
Record Enrollment
This fall, the college welcomed its largest-ever class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. On Aug. 21, 226 undergraduates — including 85 new seats — began their journey as Gator Nurses. The milestone represents a 60% increase in enrollment in one year, a bold response to Florida’s projected nursing shortage of more than 59,000 nurses by 2035.
For Camila Fuentes, a transfer student from South Florida, the milestone is personal.
“I visited the University of Florida as part of a STEM class, and I knew this was where I wanted to study,” Fuentes said. “Everyone speaks highly of the nursing program. I look forward to taking advantage of this opportunity.”
Dean Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, MBA, IBCLC, RNC-NIC, who also serves as chief nurse executive for UF Health, said the expansion was both strategic and necessary.
“This is a testament to our mission, our momentum and our unwavering commitment to our students and communities,” Henderson said. “In just one year, we expanded with purpose, and now we welcomed our largest BSN cohort in history.”
The college also made sure to welcome those standing behind the new students by holding the inaugural Gator Nurse Supporter Orientation in August. Nearly 75 parents and supporters attended the event, which introduced them to faculty and staff and highlighted their crucial role in student success.
“Gator Nursing is a family, and today we welcome you into that family,” Henderson told attendees.
Sessions highlighted balance, communication and resilience. Among those present was rapid response nurse and podcast host Sarah Lorenzini, MSN, RN, CCRN, CEN, who is also the parent of a new BSN student.
“I love that the UF College of Nursing is being proactive from all angles to support their students’ success,” Lorenzini said.
and I knew this is where I wanted to study."
LINE Funding Helps Future Nurses Pursue Their Career
For Arthur Reid, earning a UF nursing degree is about more than a career. It is about building a future for his family. Thanks to the support of Florida’s Linking Industry to Nursing Education, or LINE, scholarship, Reid is pursuing his Accelerated BSN degree while simultaneously raising his 2-year-old daughter, Aria.
Reid is one of 53 Accelerated BSN students from both Jacksonville and Gainesville campuses who received the scholarship as part of the $3.3 million awarded to the college by the state and UF Health. It is the largest award to the college since the inception of the LINE program.
The program, created by the Florida Legislature in 2022 to address the state’s nursing shortage, awarded $1.68 million this year, with an additional $1.68 million in matching funds from UF Health.
Without the scholarship, Reid, who holds a degree in physical therapy, would not have been able to return to school.
“It means a lot to me, especially as a parent,” Reid said. “It allows me to focus on school while working minimally and still taking care of the things I need to take care of for my family.”
The LINE scholarship at the College of Nursing provides support for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and do not qualify for traditional scholarships. Recipients can work part time during the program as a patient care assistant and agree to full-time employment as registered nurses at UF Health after graduation.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to help address the critical nursing shortage in our state,” Henderson said. “We are grateful to the legislature, the Board of Governors and UF Health for their partnership in building the nursing workforce of the future.”
The program also fueled upgrades at the Kirbo Innovation and Learning Laboratory, from advanced simulation mannequins to expanded lab hours.
The investment in new technology will better prepare students for practice and includes additional hospital beds, electronic medication systems and plans for a new virtual reality lab. An expanded simulation control room will also enable faculty to run up to seven simulations at once, nearly doubling current capacity.
“These upgrades ensure our BSN and DNP students have the hands-on experience they need with the same tools and technology they’ll encounter in clinical practice,” said Kasey Nestor, EdD, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN, CNE, clinical lecturer and director of the Kirbo Lab.
New Clinical Program Expands to UF Health St. Johns
This fall, the UF College of Nursing expanded clinical training opportunities to UF Health St. Johns, offering students new experiences across diverse care settings while strengthening the college’s statewide partnerships.
“By creating new clinical opportunities at UF Health St. Johns, we are ensuring our students gain valuable, real-world experiences that prepare them to deliver excellent patient care,” said Karen Reed, DHSc, MSN, RN, CNE, CRRN, associate dean of academic affairs for undergraduate education and clinical associate professor. “This program strengthens our collaboration with health care partners and supports our mission to graduate nurses who are ready to meet the needs of our communities.”
For senior nursing student Nicholas Lewington, the new clinical rotation offered an opportunity to step outside of Gainesville and experience a different hospital environment.
“When I first saw we’d be driving about an hour to St. Johns, I wasn’t thrilled about the commute,” Lewington said with a laugh. “But once I got there, everyone — from the receptionist to the nurses — was so welcoming and supportive. It turned out to be one of my favorite clinical experiences.”
Lewington completed his obstetrics clinical rotation at UF Health Flagler Hospital, working alongside nurses in the mother-baby unit.
“It was a much slower pace,” he said. “That gave me time to really focus on patient assessments and ask my nurse a lot of questions. It felt like a true one-on-one learning experience.”
He said the smaller hospital environment also allowed him to see a range of care experiences, from postpartum recovery to emergency situations.
“I even got to spend time in the emergency department,” he said. “I watched a critical case unfold right after the patient came off the ambulance. It was incredible exposure to different aspects of care you don’t always get to see in one rotation.”
Lewington credits clinical instructor Elizabeth Myrick for making the experience even more meaningful.
“She’s one of the best instructors I’ve ever had. So knowledgeable and patient,” he said. “She gave us an in-depth crash course on fetal monitoring and really encouraged us to ask questions and think critically.”
The addition of UF Health St. Johns clinical placements builds on the college’s efforts to expand access and opportunity for its largest-ever BSN class, ensuring future nurses are practice-ready and equipped to meet the needs of communities across Florida.
Clinical Assistant Professor Suzanne Weed with Accelerated BSN students during a clinical rotation at UF Health St. Johns.
Students Finding Their Voice
The Pre-Nursing Student Association, or PNSA, has quickly become a vital resource for students preparing to enter the nursing program. Founded in 2024, the organization has already drawn packed general body meetings and has launched initiatives, including a mentorship program with the UF Student Nursing Association.
Now officially sponsored by the College of Nursing, PNSA benefits from increased funding, staff support and recognition within the UF nursing community.
“Being under the College of Nursing feels really rewarding,” said PNSA President Asha Watkins, now a first-semester BSN student. “It shows that the college recognizes the work we’re doing and trusts us to keep growing and supporting pre-nursing students. That connection helps our members feel more included in the nursing community even before they’re admitted into the program.”
The group has seen rapid expansion with more than 260 current members. PNSA was selected as a finalist for UF’s Outstanding Student Organization of the Year during the 2025 Involvement Awards ceremony. This recognition highlights the organization’s rapid impact on campus through its focus on empowering pre-nursing students via mentorship, professional development, community service and networking events.
With mentorship, social events and outreach opportunities, PNSA continues to fill a key gap for pre-nursing students seeking community, guidance and preparation for their future careers.
Leading on Social Impact
The college also became the first in the nation to partner with Nurses United Against Human Trafficking, or NUAHT, launching a certificate program to train students, professional nurses and other health care professionals to identify and respond to human trafficking.
“Nurses are uniquely positioned on the front lines of patient care, often encountering victims of trafficking without realizing it,” Henderson said.
The evidence-based certificate program, offered at no cost to current students, faculty and staff, will eventually expand to alumni, UF Health nurses and other professionals.
Melissa Brace, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CCRN, a clinical assistant professor at the college who has completed the course, said it addresses all areas of human trafficking.
“This training helps nurses pick up on the often-subtle signs of a trafficked person,” she said, noting that an estimated 88% of trafficked individuals encounter a health care professional.
Brace said the program is especially vital given the limited data and hidden nature of trafficking.
“Nurses are often the first and sometimes only health care professionals to encounter these individuals,” she said. “We must learn how to recognize, assess and provide culturally competent care to break the cycle of exploitation.”
She added that the training is already influencing her work as she examines ways to better prepare nursing students to recognize and intervene when they encounter potential victims.
“Florida is one of the top three states in the U.S. for reported trafficking cases,” Brace said. “With increased awareness, we can make a difference in someone’s life.”
Francine Bono-Neri, PhD, RN, APRN, PNP, FAAN, co-founder and president of NUAHT, said the partnership sets a national standard.
“The UF College of Nursing is fulfilling that duty by educating and empowering its community to disrupt this evil cycle,” Bono-Neri said.
Further building on this commitment to social impact, the college has expanded its efforts to strengthen community ties through a robust community engagement initiative.
The effort continues to develop deeper outreach, partnerships and hands-on service-learning opportunities.
Under the coordination of Reathea Felder, APRN, DNP, FNP-C, a clinical assistant professor, this program integrates nursing education with real-world impact.
Since September, the initiative has coordinated 20 volunteer opportunities totaling more than 50 hours of service, including community flu vaccination clinics, safety and resource events and health workshops.
“I think doing more projects like this is what nursing is about,” Felder said. “It’s not just about bedside care. It’s about seeing the whole person and finding the best support and care for them.”
Archer Takes Bold Step Toward A Healthier Tomorrow
A new retina camera was purchased for AFHC earlier this year. The camera detects treatable conditions affecting vision, transmitting the image to a licensed ophthalmologist for evaluation.
Nearly $200,000 is being invested in upgrades at UF Health Archer Family Health Care, or AFHC, to strengthen patient care, support clinic staff and enhance essential services for the rural community it serves.
The improvements include new medical equipment that expands diagnostic capabilities, improves patient outcomes and streamlines clinical workflows. Providers will be able to make faster and more accurate assessments, helping ensure that patients receive timely and effective care across a broader range of needs.
“These upgrades will make a real difference in how we deliver care every day,” said Denise Schentrup, DNP, APRN, FAANP, associate dean for clinical affairs and practice director at AFHC. “Our team works hard to meet the needs of patients across all ages and backgrounds, and these tools will help us do that more efficiently and effectively.”
From advanced vision and hearing screening to expanded lab testing and emergency preparedness, the upgrades will allow AFHC’s clinical team to meet the growing demands of modern primary care.
One of the most significant additions is a high-capacity generator that will keep the practice running and maintain temperature-sensitive supplies during power outages or severe weather. In a region where storms can quickly disrupt essential services, the new system reinforces AFHC’s commitment to safety and reliability.
“Having a reliable power source means we can continue to provide care even in the most challenging conditions,” Schentrup said. “Our patients depend on us, and this ensures we’re always here when they need us.”
The investment also focuses on the people behind the care. Ergonomic improvements and professional development opportunities will create a more comfortable, efficient and collaborative workplace.
“At Archer, we care deeply about both our patients and our staff,” Schentrup said. “That dedication shows in our results — we’re proud to be ranked among the top 10 UF Health practices for patient satisfaction. By improving our work environment and supporting ongoing learning, we’re building a stronger, more resilient team that can continue to provide high-quality, compassionate care.”
Clinical Associate Professor Christina Bricker examines a patient at UF Health Archer Family Health Care.
Looking Ahead
The College of Nursing remains committed to producing not just nurses, but leaders in practice, education and research who are prepared to meet the evolving demands of health care.
The combination of rigorous education, practical experience and community engagement positions the college to continue shaping the future of nursing in Florida and across the nation.
