Faceoff: How Tampa Bay is building Florida’s nursing workforce

Key points:

• • Florida has invested $485 million in nursing education since 2022 through the LINE and PIPELINE programs.
• • USF Health achieved a 97% NCLEX-RN pass rate last year — among the highest in Florida’s State University System.
• • Burnout is reshaping the nursing profession, and Tampa Bay’s schools are training students to navigate it from day one.

May 2026 — As healthcare becomes one of the defining industries of the next decade, Florida’s ability to grow and retain a strong nursing workforce has never mattered more. Demand for care is rising, a generation of experienced nurses is nearing retirement, and the schools tasked with training their replacements are under pressure to grow faster than their capacity has traditionally allowed.

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Since 2022, Florida has invested more than $485 million in nursing education through two state programs — Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) and Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) — which fund student scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment purchases, and simulation center upgrades at institutions across the state. For USF Health, that investment helped make possible a new simulation center named for Tampa General Hospital, part of a broader commitment to expand undergraduate enrollment.

Invest: Tampa Bay spoke with Usha Menon, dean of USF Health College of Nursing, and Kristen Bryan Wessel, dean of Galen College of Nursing, about how they’re expanding access, strengthening outcomes, and preparing nurses to not just enter the workforce — but stay in it.

What investments and initiatives are having an impact on growing the nursing pipeline in Tampa Bay?

Usha Menon, Dean, USF Health College of Nursing: 

We continue to be very grateful for the investment that the legislature has made in nursing, particularly for us, with the new simulation center that will be named for Tampa General Hospital … my commitment back to the state was that we would bring in 500 additional new undergraduates. We are about 130 away from that goal, so we have done really well. Our undergraduate program is the second largest in the state of Florida, and our graduate program has the highest number of graduates in the state, so we are making an impact.

Kristen Bryan Wessel, Dean, Galen College of Nursing: 

Opening campuses is not about hitting a target number. It is about creating access to nursing education in communities where the pipeline must grow to meet demand … our vision is to change the life of one in order to care for the lives of many.

What does it take to keep students on track through a demanding program and into the workforce?

Menon: Last year we hit 97% on the NCLEX-RN pass rate, which was one of the highest in the State University System of Florida. When students see that level of success, it strengthens their belief that they can complete the program and be successful … sometimes a student is $1,000 away from being able to pay tuition for the next semester, and that small amount can stop them in their tracks. Because the fund is not restricted, we can help students immediately when they need it.

Wessel: One defining characteristic that separates Galen College of Nursing from other academic nursing programs is the student support services and resources. We recognize that everyone comes with a different background and academic history. At Galen College, we seek to meet people where they are at, leveraging our vast resources to support students as they pursue their dream of becoming a nurse.

How is technology reshaping the way nursing students learn and prepare for practice?

Menon: Simulation has become sophisticated, with high-fidelity tools, and students are getting an absolutely fabulous experience. We are also using AI for conflict management and leadership training before they transition to practice. As technology advances, we have the ability to do more with simulation, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

Wessel: Simulation is a valuable tool because it allows students to practice decision-making, prioritize tasks and respond to changing conditions without putting patients at risk. We also stay close to our clinical partners so we understand what they are seeing on the front lines and can refine our approach as healthcare evolves.

Given the nursing shortage, what are your priorities for the next two to three years?

Menon: Burnout is shaping the workforce. We are seeing data that many nurses plan to leave the profession in the coming years, including nurses who are not close to retirement. That is why we focus on preparing students for the realities of practice and reinforcing self-care and conflict resolution skills as part of professional readiness … we want to keep our pass rates strong, and we will continue to aim for higher national rankings.

Wessel: We keep the human side of the profession front and center. Burnout and moral distress are real, and students deserve an honest understanding of what the work demands. When students see nursing as it truly is and choose it with clear expectations, they are better positioned to grow in the profession and to stay in it.

 Want more? Read the Invest: Tampa Bay report.