Eight hospitals help UNF enlarge
nursing program

Seven hospital representatives gathered at the UNF campus recently to announce a $1 million gift to enhance nursing education at UNF. Those attending were (from left) Robert Walters, Mayo Clinic /St. Luke's Hospital; Robert Krieger, Orange Park Medical Center; John Maher, St Vincent's Health Systems; Rex Etheredge, Memorial Hospital; UNF President Anne Hopkins; Hugh Greene, Baptist Health; Ernie Ford, Speciality Hospital; and Douglas Baer, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital.

The first students to benefit from a gift of more than $1 million by eight Northeast Florida hospitals to address the area's acute nursing shortage are taking classes at UNF this summer.

The gift enables UNF to fund five-and-a-half additional faculty positions in the Department of Nursing over the next five years. The increase in faculty means the University can admit and graduate more nurses.

"This gift shows the confidence these outstanding hospitals have in the University of North Florida," said UNF President Anne Hopkins. "I am enormously pleased that UNF and these eight outstanding hospitals have entered into this collaborative relationship to address the critical issue of the nursing shortage in Northeast Florida."

There are two basic ways to become a baccalaureate-level nurse at UNF. Currently, UNF admits 72 students to the pre-licensure program. This more-traditional four-year program will be increased by 24 additional students. A second UNF nursing program also leading to a BSN in nursing is designed for nurses who already hold the R.N. and are seeking a baccalaureate degree. An additional 24 nursing students will be admitted through a joint program established last year between FCCJ and UNF known as the Collaborative Nursing Program or Project CONECT.

"We need nurses," said Dr. Pam Chally, dean of UNF's College of Health. "For example, you or a loved one are in the emergency room. The doctor decides you need to be admitted to the hospital and you wait and wait for a room. You think the problem is too many patients. Today, the problem is more likely to be not enough nurses available to open the beds."

Chally had words of praise for the chief executive officers at the eight hospitals. "This group of CEOs has shown incredible insight and leadership in making this gift. It will be used directly to educate more nursing students. The hospitals, community and patients will directly benefit."

"It's been heartening to work so closely with the other hospital leaders to put over a million dollars into this program to support expansion of the UNF nursing program," said John Maher, CEO of St. Vincent's Health Systems. "I see this as an investment not only in nursing here at St. Vincent's, but for the entire Jacksonville community. This is a tremendous example of hospitals coming together to provide better health care for everyone."

Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health, agreed with Maher. "Nothing is more important to us at Baptist Health than to have qualified, well-prepared patient caregivers to serve our patients," Greene said. "Therefore, we are pleased to be a part of expanding the supply of nurses in our region. What is particularly gratifying is the significant level of cooperation between the hospitals to address what is a critical need in our community."

The CEOs of the other hospitals are: Robert Walters - Mayo/St. Luke's Hospital, Rex Etheredge - Memorial Hospital, Ernie Ford - Specialty Hospital Jacksonville, Robert Krieger - Orange Park Medical Center, Charles Schauer - Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Otis L. Story Sr. - Shands Jacksonville.