Eastern Florida State College To Offer Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing By 2018

By  //  October 19, 2016

Key in decision was Florida's aging Baby Boomers

ABOVE VIDEO: Eastern Florida State College offers almost 20 different programs that can lead to a career in health care

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College plans to start a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2018 to help meet a critical need for more nurses along the Space Coast and in Florida.

The College’s Board of Trustees approved the program Monday, taking another step forward in EFSC’s continuing expansion of its four-year degrees.

“Our current nursing program that allows students to earn an Associate of Science degree is among our premier fields of study and very popular,” said College President Dr. Jim Richey.

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EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey, on the left, accepts a donation from Florida College System Foundation board member Dr. Thomas Furlong Jr. Also pictured is nursing major Jennah Avery, one of dozens of EFSC students who will benefit from the gift.

“The ability to gain a Bachelor’s degree will take that to the next level and open new career vistas for students who will have excellent job prospects when they graduate.”

College officials cited state and national studies showing there are thousands of nursing vacancies in Florida caused by the retirement of health care professionals.

They also said Florida’s aging population of Baby Boomers is another major factor contributing to the rising demand for nurses.

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Locally, the program is supported by Health First, the largest employer of nurses in Brevard County, to help fill its ranks. Other community-based health care facilities also say it’s needed.

The program would be located in the College’s new $20 million Health Sciences Institute scheduled to open on the Melbourne campus in January.

The 60,000-square-foot facility will house 12 new and existing programs and contain 10 specialized labs with state-of-the-art equipment.

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