Florida is projected to face a nursing shortage of more than 50,000 nurses, according to the Florida Hospital Association. To help strengthen the healthcare workforce in Tampa Bay, the University of South Florida (USF) opened a new College of Nursing facility.
The three-story, 42,000-square-foot expansion will give students more opportunities for clinical training and hands-on learning. The facility includes the advanced Tampa General Hospital Nursing Simulation Center, modern clinical training spaces, flexible learning labs, study areas and adaptable classrooms.
The second floor includes classrooms that can accommodate up to 160 students, along with multipurpose rooms. The third floor will include research labs and is expected to be completed in January 2027.
USF officials said the expansion will allow the college to add 500 undergraduate students by 2028.
“At USF, we believe one of our greatest responsibilities is preparing the people Florida needs,” USF President Moez Limayem said in a press release. “This facility will help us educate even more nursing students, strengthen the talent pipeline and prepare graduates who are ready to enter the workforce with the confidence, skill and experience to provide exceptional care.”
The College of Nursing building is a $33 million project supported by investments from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature in 2022. Construction began in 2024 and was completed on time, according to the university.
“This building represents opportunity. It represents growth. And it represents our commitment to meeting one of Florida’s greatest healthcare needs,” said Usha Menon, dean of the USF Health College of Nursing and senior associate vice president of USF Health, in a press release. “Every student who walks through these doors, every discovery made here and every patient whose life is improved because of the education that happens inside this building will be part of the legacy we celebrate today.”
The Tampa General Hospital Nursing Simulation Center was built with the help of a $4.4 million investment from Tampa General Hospital. The simulation center includes 12 clinical examination rooms, four simulation learning labs and multipurpose learning labs.
In the controlled environment, students will learn skills such as taking vital signs, communicating with patients, administering medication and identifying sepsis.
As Florida's population continues to grow and the need for nurses increases, USF said the expansion will help strengthen the healthcare workforce and create career pathways for students entering the profession.
This fall, the college will also offer a new four-year Freshman Nursing Pathway degree program at the St. Petersburg campus. The program will help 85 students prepare for a nursing career from the beginning of their college education.
The nursing shortage is expected to continue impacting Florida, but USF and other Tampa Bay organizations are working to create more pathways and career opportunities for students interested in entering the field.