A logo with the words 'FCN' in blue on the left 
a graphic of the state of Florida in yellow in the middle 
and the words 'FLORIDA CENTER FOR NURSING' in blue on the right.

Happy New Year, and welcome to the January newsletter!


In this issue:

  • Education Symposium
  • FCN Impact Report
  • Community Engagement Tour
  • Strategies to Combat Florida's Nursing Shortage
  • Upcoming Events
  • FCN In the News
  • This Month in Nursing History

Leading Excellence and Innovation in Florida Education Symposium

A graphic promoting the Florida Center for Nursing Education Symposium: Leading Excellence and Innovation in Florida. The FCN logo and the UF College of Nursing logos are on the top above the title, with details of the event below. Light blue swipes are on the top and bottom as a background. On the right side is “In-person and virtual attendance options available,” along with details and the registration link. A QR code is on the bottom right, just above “The Florida Center for Nursing is proudly headquartered at the University of South Florida College of Nursing.”

Florida Center for Nursing Education Symposium

On Friday, March 7, the Florida Center for Nursing will present the Leading Excellence and Innovation in Florida education symposium. This symposium brings together leading experts to present critical data, engage in dynamic panel discussions, and develop forward-thinking recommendations for the future of nursing education in Florida.


The symposium will take place from 10am to 4pm ET at the Hilton UF Conference Center in Gainesville, FL. In-person and virtual options are available.


Key Highlights


  • Data Presentation: Comprehensive data analyses will highlight current trends, challenges, and opportunities within nursing education in Florida. 
  • Expert Panel Discussion: A distinguished panel of thought leaders will explore critical issues and innovative solutions in nursing education.
  • Keynote on Innovation in Education: This speech will address how innovation can shape the future of nursing education in Florida and ensure a robust and sustainable nursing workforce.


Who Should Attend


  • Nurse educators & nursing faculty
  • Health care administrators & policymakers
  • Nursing students & nurses
  • Health care advocates


PENDING - Continuing Education Credits will be offered for program content (4.5 hours total) 


Visit flcntr.org/Symposium or click the button to learn more and register.

Learn More

Florida Center for Nursing Impact Report

Florida Center for Nursing staff is putting the finishing touches on the FCN Impact Report 2024, available on the FCN website January 10.


The Impact Report details the FCN's activities and impact during 2024 in pursuit of the Florida Center for Nursing's mission, vision, and values.

A blurry photo of open reports with the words COMING SOON in white letters on a green banner over top.

FCN Impact Report 2024 Coming Soon

FCN Mission


The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse workforce resources.

FCN Vision


The vision of the Florida Center for Nursing is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.

FCN Values


  • Accountability - We commit to deliver on the FCN’s statutory goals.
  • Integrity - We practice high ethical standards through interpersonal and interprofessional relationships.
  • Respect - We cultivate collaborative partnerships that promote access for everyone.
  • Courage - We take bold steps to create innovative best practices to advance the nursing profession.

Community Engagement Tour

A banner with a background of pictures from the Florida Center for Nursing Community Engagement Tour. Over the pictures on the left are the words "Community Engagement Tour" in white and blue letters and a smaller yellow banner with the word "complete" in blue.

FCN Community Engagement Tour

The Florida Center for Nursing Community Engagement Tour ran between May 2024 and December 2024. During that time, FCN staff visited Florida’s eight nursing regions to gather data and recommendations from diverse communities throughout the state:


A map of Florida with the eight nursing regions blocked out in different colors and a star in each one. On the left is the Florida Center for Nursing logo above 'Community Engagement Tour Complete' in blue, white, and yellow.

Community Engagement Tour Locations

Almost 700 community members across the state participated in regional events, responding to the latest FCN research and offering feedback about the unique issues they face in their communities. Their voices will have further impact when the Florida Center for Nursing Community Engagement Tour report is released later this year.


Thank you to FCN's partners and hosts, thank you to the health care leaders who participated in listening panels at each event, and thank you to communities across the state for adding value and substance to this endeavor.

A graphic promoting the Florida Center for Nursing Strategies to Combat Florida's Nursing Shortage webinar series with dark blue letters on a light blue background. The FCN logo is on the top left.

Florida Center for Nursing Webinar Series

The Florida Center for Nursing began a new webinar series last year examining different strategies to combat Florida's nursing shortage. Recordings of each webinar are available at the links below.

An image for a virtual webinar hosted by the Florida Center for Nursing. Blue letters spell out the title of the webinar. Below that are the four people who are featured in the webinar, with photos, names, and titles. The Florida Center for Nursing logo sits on the bottom middle.

Partnerships to Promote Student Success

Key topics include:

  • Florida Center for Nursing’s research findings
  • Partnerships to enhance student success
  • Peer tutoring and student success coaching programs


This webinar includes panelists Kathleen Cappo, Dean of Health Sciences at South Florida State College, Elizabeth "Betty" Jordan, Senior Associate Dean of Student Success at University of South Florida's College of Nursing, Rayna Letourneau, Executive Director at Florida Center for Nursing, and Samyr Qureshi, CEO and Co-Founder at Knack.

Watch Now
A graphic for the Florida Center for Nursing webinar "Facilitating Transition to Practice" on a light blue background. The title is featured at the top in darker blue letters. with the three panelists' names, job titles, and headshots  below. The Florida Center for Nursing logo sits on the bottom right.

Facilitating Transition to Practice


Key topics include:

  • Turnover rates of new to practice nurses
  • Strategies to ensure adequate workforce development
  • Partnerships that focus on transition-to-practice strategies


Comprising the panel for this webinar are Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, Executive Director at the Florida Center for Nursing, Leah Robinson, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, Advanced Specialty Program Coordinator at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, and Kendra Siler, PhD, CEO at CommHIT.

Watch Now
A graphic for the webinar, "The Role of Preceptors in Nursing Education" in white letters on an aqua background. The Florida Center for Nursing logo sits in the center beneath the title. Headshots, names, and titles of participants make up the bottom half of the picture.

The Role of Preceptors in Nursing Education


Key topics include:

  • Defining a nurse preceptor
  • Identifying preceptor competencies
  • Discussing a formal preceptor program in a large health care system


The panel for this webinar features Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, Executive Director at the Florida Center for Nursing, Solimar Figueroa, PhD, RN, Clinical Nurse Educator, Preceptor Specialist, Baptist Health South Florida, and Mary Harper, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC, FAAN, Director of Research and Inquiry, Association for Nursing Professional Development.

Watch Now

Upcoming Events

Florida Center for Nursing staff hopes to see you at these upcoming events.

An image with a column of upcoming events Florida Center for Nursing will attend in the coming months with "Upcoming Events" in yellow at the bottom left and a calendar page on the bottom right. The background of the photo is dark blue.

Upcoming FCN Events

Florida Board of Nursing Board Meeting, February 5, St. Augustine, FL

  • Florida Center for Nursing Executive Director Rayna Letourneau, PhD, RN, will attend and provide an update from the FCN.


FNA Advocacy Days, February 19-20, Tallahassee, FL

  • Florida Center for Nursing is the Nursing Data Champion of the event.
  • Dr. Letourneau will present research and data on the nursing workforce in Florida.


Florida Center for Nursing Board Meeting, March 5, Tallahassee, FL


Florida Center for Nursing Education Symposium - Leading Excellence and Innovation in Florida, March 7, Hilton UF Conference Center, Gainseville, FL

Florida Trend utilized FCN research for their article "Pressure Check"



This Month in Nursing History

On January 6, 1975, the American Nurses Association held formal ceremonies to recognize the first nurses certified by the ANA.

American Nurses Association Certification Medallion

According to the ANA website, the organization established the accreditation process to help create a "platform from which to lead towards better health care for all."

A white, open envelope outlined in blue with two white letters poking out. The letter in front has blue lines across it and an empty image box on the top right corner.


Thank you for reading! If you have suggestions, feedback, or comments, please email flcenterfornursing@usf.edu or click the button below.

Contact Us

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About the Florida Center for Nursing


The Florida Center for Nursing is established to research and address issues of supply and demand for nursing, including issues of recruitment, retention, and utilization of nurse workforce resources. The vision of the FCN is to ensure that the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Florida are met by a competent and sufficient nursing workforce.


Click the button below to learn more about the Florida Center for Nursing.

About the FCN
 
 
 
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