DAYTONA STATE COLLEGE IS BRIDGING THE NURSING SHORTAGE GAP by Tim Carpenter
As part of its seven-campus system throughout Volusia and Flagler counties , Daytona State College has a broad reach throughout eastern Florida ’ s coastal communities . Its northernmost campus , located in Palm Coast , serves an area that has seen exponential growth since its incorporation a little more than 20 years ago and was designated by the United States Census Bureau as the country ’ s fastest growing metropolitan area in 2011 . Since then , the population has continued to grow and Daytona State ’ s Flagler / Palm Coast Campus is keeping pace as it strives to help meet the healthcare needs of a city that ’ s now home to nearly 100,000 residents .
No longer the small town it was in 1999 , Palm Coast has been facing a shortage of healthcare workers for several years . To meet current and future needs ( another hospital is scheduled to open in 2022 ), Daytona State ’ s nationally recognized nursing program at its Flagler / Palm Coast Campus has expanded significantly . The
College has already increased the capacity from 30 seats to 120 , and state-of-the-art facility renovations are nearly complete .
“ Flagler County , specifically the Palm Coast area , is growing in popularity as a residential community and with that comes the need for healthcare facilities ,” said Amy Szoka , Chair of Daytona State ’ s School of Nursing . “ The
Amy Szoka
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