• AdventHealth, one of Florida’s leading health providers, announced the launch of its three-year accelerated nursing pathway program 
• The academic track will be held at the provider’s education institution AdventHealth University in Orlando, as well as the university’s Denver campus
• The program aims to replace a traditional four-year degree curriculum while offering a more comprehensive teaching of skills necessary to the health workforce 

AdventHealth on Wednesday announced the launch of its three-year accelerated program for prospective nurses. Held at the health provider’s university in Orlando, the pathway will aid in addressing Florida’s acute nursing shortage.

The program is aimed at high school graduates, college transfer students, and mid-career professionals. This reorganized bachelor’s degree option is one of several programs in nursing education taking place at AdventHealth University to grow the nursing workforce and curb the nursing shortage.

“AdventHealth University is committed to making it easier to pursue a rewarding career as a nurse and providing as many easily-accessible entry points as possible to do so,” said Juli Daniels, dean of nursing at AdventHealth University. “Our faculty and team are working diligently to implement innovative ways to help stem the nursing shortfall as we inspire and support nurses and nursing students.”

The program offers a comprehensive education in order to prepare students for a career in the health workforce. The degree track offers classes like Nursing Informatics, Pharmacology, and Physiology, which replaces a four-year degree curriculum while providing expected student outcomes and necessary certifications.

“Our degree program continues to exceed industry standards,” said Deena Slockett, senior vice president of operational strategy and learning at AdventHealth University. “If you are considering a career in nursing, this restructured degree will allow you to practice healthcare … at a faster rate.”

In an interview with The Capitolist earlier this year, Florida Hospital Association (FHA) CEO Mary Mayhew explained that the current Registered Nurse turnover rate is 25 percent, also noting a turnover of over a third of its total critical care unit workforce. FHA projects a deficit of 59,100 nurses in Florida by 2035.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for nurses in Florida is expected to grow by 21 percent, while 40 percent of nurses will approach retirement age in the next decade. The report also indicated that stressful working conditions caused by the pandemic were creating a surge in workers exiting the medical field.