Daytona State College Nursing Program
to reject or place on waiting lists . This is of particular concern for a community such as Palm Coast where approximately 36 percent of the residents are 60 and over .
Nationwide , it ’ s estimated an additional 221,900 nurses will be needed by 2029 , a large number by itself ,
Colin Chesley but when retirements and workforce exits are also considered , it ’ s anticipated there will be more than 175,000 openings per year . However , in 2019 , nursing schools turned away 80,407 would-be students from their baccalaureate and graduate programs . Lack of space , lack of clinical sites , budget shortfalls or a shortage of faculty were all among the culprits .
Szoka said the DSC nursing program typically receives 225-300 applicants during each application cycle , but last May , during the height of COVID , more than 500 applied . While not all would have qualified , it showed people recognized the need for a pandemicproof career , one that would also have a positive impact on lives .
“ We need to put more nurses at the bedside and our expansion will allow that to happen ,” said Szoka .
Daytona State ’ s expansion addresses many of the issues schools
cited as reasons they ’ ve been turning away nursing students , and the College is hoping its commitment to grow the program at the Flagler / Palm Coast Campus will strengthen a home-grown pipeline that will distribute dozens of new nurses across the region each year . The College also entered into an agreement with the University of North Florida to support UNF ’ s new MedNex initiative , a university-based comprehensive medical nexus planned for Palm Coast . Once operational , MedNex will be a first-of-itskind training hub consolidating healthcare disciplines , technology development , research and analytics at one location .
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