TAMPA, Fla., December 20, 2022 – As part of its ongoing commitment to support innovative approaches to addressing the nursing shortage, HCA Healthcare West Florida Division is sponsoring the on demand Peer Tutoring Program at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. This unique sponsorship involves a three-year commitment to support USF College of Nursing’s free tutoring program for nursing students through the College’s partnership with Knack.
“We continue to look for opportunities to work with local schools, colleges and universities to identify, support and inspire the next generation of caregivers,” said Ravi Chari, M.D., president of HCA Healthcare West Florida Division. “With shortages projected across the board from physicians to nurses to therapists, we are excited to connect locally to ensure the communities we serve continue to have access to needed healthcare services.”
HCA Healthcare invests approximately $40 million a year in its tuition assistance program which has helped about 5,000 caregivers graduate. More than 70% of degrees have been in the nursing field. Additionally, our year-long Nurse Residency program for new graduates includes 500 hours of clinical education both in the classroom and at the bedside to better prepare new graduates for their nursing career and connect them to a supportive community of experienced nurses. Our StaRN (Specialty Training Apprenticeship for Registered Nurses) program provides intensive training for new nursing graduates to support a successful transition to independent practice.
“Nurses are the heart of healthcare and what better way to ensure the communities we serve continue to receive high quality compassionate care than to expand access to nursing education and support our student nurses in their academic pursuits,” said Dr. Leanne D. Salazar, DNP, MBA, ARNP, CENP, CPPS, CPHQ, FNP-BC, division chief nurse executive for the West Florida Division of HCA Healthcare. “We are very excited to be part of this initiative with the USF College of Nursing and hope to inspire a career-long love of learning for these nurses.”
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About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 570 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms. United as a statewide network in 2021, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,000 experienced doctors and 77,000 colleagues working together to deliver advanced, collaborative care to more than 6.4 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provided nearly $836.6 million in uncompensated care and invested significantly in innovative technologies and facilities across Florida, including the new $360 million state-of-the-art, multi-specialty HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, Fla. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.