As the nation recognizes National Nurses Week, the University of Florida College of Nursing is highlighting the evolving role of nurses and the responsibility of preparing the next generation of the profession.
For faculty like Associate Professor Jennifer Dungan, PhD, MSN, BSN, that responsibility carries both opportunity and weight. A nurse scientist specializing in genomics and a fellow of the American Heart Association, Dungan brings a research-driven perspective to the classroom, helping students understand how science and patient care intersect.
“It’s equal parts exciting and daunting,” Dungan said. “We have an opportunity to help shape the next generation of nurses, but we also know the environment they’re going into is complex. We owe it to them to prepare them for that reality while still protecting their enthusiasm and optimism.”
Dungan said expectations for nurses have grown significantly in recent years, driven in part by advances in technology and increasing demands across health care systems. While those changes have improved care in many ways, they have also added pressure to a profession rooted in human connection.
“At the core of nursing, we cannot lose that human connection,” she said. “That ability to anticipate needs, provide comfort and connect with patients and families is essential. It takes time, compassion and emotional energy, and that balance can be challenging.”
At the University of Florida College of Nursing, faculty work to prepare students not only with clinical skills but with the judgment and resilience needed to navigate that complexity. Through classroom instruction, simulation and hands-on clinical experiences, students are trained to think critically and lead in a rapidly changing health care environment.
Dungan said Nurses Week also serves as an opportunity to broaden public understanding of the profession.
“It’s a chance for people outside of nursing to see the full scope of what nurses do,” she said. “Yes, we care for patients at the bedside, but we’re also researchers, educators, policy leaders and innovators. Nurses are contributing in ways many people don’t always see.”
From community health initiatives to genomic research and health system leadership, nurses are embedded across nearly every facet of care delivery. That breadth, Dungan said, reflects the profession’s growing influence and its role in shaping the future of health care.
Still, she emphasized that the foundation of nursing remains unchanged.
“The patient experience is at the core of everything we do,” Dungan said. “No matter how much the profession evolves, that one-on-one connection is what defines nursing.”
As a college, UF Nursing continues to position itself as a global catalyst for nursing excellence and transformative health innovation, preparing graduates who are equipped to meet the demands of modern health care while staying grounded in the values that define the profession.
During Nurses Week, that mission comes into sharper focus: supporting nurses, advancing knowledge and ensuring the next generation is ready to care, lead and inspire boldly.