• Jacksonville University is expanding its accelerated nursing program to the Palm Coast satellite campus location 
• Students will be instructed by faculty members of Jacksonville University’s Keigwin School of Nursing
• Participants will complete clinical hours at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine 
• The university stated that the program was created in order to provide the nursing workforce with educated and experienced professionals amid a worker shortage

Jacksonville University (JU) announced an expansion of its accelerated nursing program, bringing the degree pathway to its Palm Coast satellite campus.

Classes for the new program will be held in JU’s Palm Coast location, with students set to be instructed by faculty members of the school’s Keigwin School of Nursing.

Students will also access technology necessary to medical education such as virtual reality simulation, which is designed to accelerate learning in preparation for the clinical setting.

Initially launched in January 2021 at JU’s main campus near downtown Jacksonville, the program grants students the opportunity to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in one year.

The university states that it created the program in order to meet the need for nurses in Florida.

“Jacksonville University is proud to expand this highly sought-after program, which has been extremely successful in Jacksonville and has served as a groundbreaking model for nursing education in our state,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. “The demand for well-educated, quality nurses persists nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Jacksonville University is committed to bringing innovative solutions to address this urgent crisis.”

Nursing students participating in the Palm Coast program will complete clinical hours at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, according to the university website.

The program is also offering a scholarship that covers $10,000 worth of tuition in exchange for an 18-month work commitment at the current market rate with Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital or Halifax CIR

“Jacksonville University is committed to preparing our students for the exciting healthcare careers ahead of them. Students of the 12-month ABSN program will have access to immersive learning tools and technology, including Virtual Reality simulation and robotics, to enhance their learning experience and practice patient scenarios to develop critical thinking skills,” said the university.

The initial accelerated nursing degree offering in Jacksonville compressed the typical three-year-long academic pathway to a single year. Completion of the program grants participants an active nursing license and assists in career placement.

Students in Jacksonville complete clinical hours at Baptist Health, with several members of the first graduating class accepting positions at the hospital.