New campuses will help address ongoing nursing shortage
January 13, 2022 – Galen College of Nursing and HCA Florida Healthcare, both part of HCA Healthcare, continued their mission to expand access to quality nursing education with today’s announcement of new campuses in Sarasota and Gainesville. With existing Florida campus locations in Tampa Bay and Miami, Galen, one of the largest educators of nurses in the United States, will double its footprint in the state to help address the state’s nursing workforce needs.
“At Galen, our mission is to expand access to quality nursing education and prepare diverse learners to demonstrate excellence and compassion in nursing,” said Mark Vogt, Galen’s chief executive officer. “Working together with HCA Florida Healthcare, students in our Gainesville and Sarasota campuses will have increased opportunities to enter the nursing profession.”
The new Gainesville 25,000 square-foot campus and Sarasota’s 22,700 square-foot campus will feature resources designed to elevate the student experience and prepare future nurses to enter the field. Solely focused on nursing education, Galen prepares a diverse population of students to become nurses who deliver quality, compassionate care. Galen will bring one of the highest levels of nursing education to the region with state-of-the-art facilities featuring advanced clinical and classroom learning environments designed to encourage hands-on learning. Galen’s student support model has helped thousands of students enter the profession with consistently high NCLEX pass rates.
Dr. Leanne D. Salazar, DNP, MBA, ARNP, CENP, CPPS, CPHQ, FNP-BC, division chief nurse executive for the West Florida Division of HCA Healthcare, added, “As the top sponsor of graduate medical education in the state of Florida, we are excited to join Galen in recruiting more prospective nursing students to enter and enhance our community workforce, like the more than 25,600 nurses we employ in our Florida sites of care. With this Academic Practice Partnership, we can also work together to bridge the education to practice gap, all designed to provide the best patient care possible.”
Dr. Peter Lindquist, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, division chief nurse executive for HCA Healthcare North Florida Division, shared, “As a mission-centered organization, we are committed to the health and wellness of our communities. Ensuring generations of families have access to high-quality healthcare delivered by compassionate, caring healthcare professionals is a top priority. We are excited to welcome Galen College of Nursing to Gainesville and look forward to the lasting impact this development will have on Alachua County and the surrounding area.”
The Gainesville Campus will be located at 7001 SW 24th Ave. and the Sarasota Campus at 501 N. Cattleman Rd. They will be designed to cultivate learning with advanced classroom and clinical technology mixed with collaborative and creative space. Created with students in mind, the campus environments will reflect a high-quality educational approach and an expression of commitment to students and the community at large.
The Sarasota and Gainesville campuses initially plan to offer three program options, including a two-year option for an associate degree in nursing; a licensed practical nurse to associate degree in nursing bridge (LPN/LVN to ADN bridge option); and a BSN program with a pre-licensure option. In addition, the Gainesville campus plans to offer a Practical Nursing (PN) option. Galen also offers online RN to BSN and MSN programs for nurses aspiring to advance their education in support of career growth and development.
With four quarterly term starts per year, admission for the upcoming term beginning March 31, 2022, for the ADN and Bridge options, is now in progress. The first term for new students will consist of online education instead of in-person classes. Admissions appointments can be scheduled by calling (877) 223-7040 or visiting galencollege.edu.
HCA Florida Healthcare has a long history of investing in Florida to effect positive change, including a major capital investment initiative of approximately $3 billion spent over the last three years. This includes the $360 million HCA Florida University Hospital and existing facility renovations across the state to accommodate new, state-of-the-art equipment. Earlier this month, HCA Healthcare announced it had purchased MD Now Urgent Care, a network of 59 urgent care centers in Florida. As a tax-paying entity, HCA Florida Healthcare has also supported local communities with more than $957 million in state taxes over the past three years.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 400 affiliated site of care, including hospitals, physician practices and freestanding emergency rooms, offering the state’s leading network of personalized care. United as a statewide network in 2021, HCA Florida Healthcare includes 11,000 experienced doctors and 77,000 colleagues working together to deliver advanced, collaborative care to more than 6.4 million patients each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provided nearly $836.6 million in uncompensated care and invested significantly in innovative technologies and facilities across Florida, including the new $360 million state-of-the-art, multi-specialty HCA Florida University Hospital in Davie, Fla. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaFamily.com.
About Galen College of Nursing
Founded more than 30 years ago, Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing colleges in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, Galen offers master’s, baccalaureate, associate, and practical/vocational nursing programs to over 8,000 students on its campuses in Louisville and Hazard, KY.; San Antonio and Austin, TX; Tampa Bay and Miami, FL.; Cincinnati, OH; Nashville, TN; Myrtle Beach, SC; and online. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. Programmatic accreditation status for Galen’s programs can be found at https://www.galencollege.edu/about-galen/accreditation. For more information about Galen College of Nursing and our pass rates, visit galencollege.edu.
