After a year of focused planning and bold action, the University of Florida College of Nursing celebrates a historic milestone: welcoming its largest-ever class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing students.
On Aug. 21, 226 BSN undergraduate students — including 85 newly created seats — will begin their nursing journey. The 60% leap in enrollment, a record-breaking expansion, is not only a response to the national nursing shortage but also a transformational investment in opportunity, access and the future of health care.
For Camila Fuentes, who transferred from South Florida to attend the program, it is an opportunity she dreamed about.
“It’s a personal achievement for me, because I visited the University of Florida as part of a STEM class and I knew this is where I wanted to study,” Fuentes said. “Everyone speaks highly of the nursing program. I look forward to taking advantage of this opportunity.”
With this bold move, UF’s BSN enrollment now reaches 722 students across the traditional, accelerated and RN-to-BSN tracks. This growth reflects the vision and collaboration with clinical partners statewide, culminating in a single year of breakthrough expansion.
“This is a defining moment in our college’s history,” said Karen Reed, DHSc, MSN, RN, CNE, CRRN, associate dean for academic affairs — undergraduate education and clinical associate professor. “Through careful planning and intentional growth, we’ve expanded in a way that preserves our high academic standards while opening doors for more students to become Gator Nurses.”
The milestone arrives at a pivotal moment: Florida is projected to face a shortage of more than 59,000 nurses by 2035, according to the Florida Hospital Association. The urgency has made UF’s leadership clear — to rise to the challenge and lead boldly.
“We are proud to answer the call,” said Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, MBA, IBCLC, RNC-NIC, dean of the UF College of Nursing and chief nurse executive for UF Health. “In just one year, we expanded with purpose, and now we are welcoming our largest BSN cohort in history. This is a testament to our mission, our momentum and our unwavering commitment to our students and communities.”
Additionally, students will have access to “Epic Playground,” giving them hands-on practice using Epic, the nation’s leading electronic health record system. This interactive training environment lets future nurses explore real-world charting, documentation and patient care scenarios, building confidence and skills before stepping into clinical settings.
This year, U.S. News & World Report rated the college’s BSN program among the top 20 best in the nation and No. 1 in Florida.
“Expanding our student body does not mean lowering the bar,” Henderson said. “It means raising the standard for what nursing education can be — reimagined, innovative and stronger than ever.”
As this historic class embarks on its journey, it joins a legacy of more than 12,000 Gator Nursing alumni who have carried the college’s values into practice since 1956.
“I know this group will rise to the challenge,” Reed said. “They are more than the largest class. They are part of a movement, part of a purpose, part of something bigger than themselves. That is what nursing is all about.”