ORLANDO, Fla. – Jenna Koo, a final-year nursing student at the University of Central Florida, never anticipated that her college experience would equip her with the skills to save lives.
As she approaches graduation, Koo is acutely aware of the looming nursing shortage in Florida, projected to reach nearly 60,000 by 2035, according to the Florida Hospital Association.
In a recent Zoom interview with News 6, Brendan Martin, Director of Research at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), highlighted the ongoing challenges in the nursing workforce.
“Since 2022, we documented approximately 138,000 nurses departed the workforce due to short staffing, high workloads, and elevated levels of burnout and stress,” Martin said.
Koo, who understands the harsh realities of nursing, including the loss of patients, remains passionate about her chosen career.
“It’s very common that nurses see patients pass away or struggling physically, and it’s tough to see that day in and day out,” she shared with News 6. Despite the challenges, she encourages others to consider nursing as a profession.
As part of her training, Koo demonstrated her skills by taking a blood pressure reading, emphasizing the importance of studying anatomy and biology for aspiring nurses.
Mary Lou Sole, Dean of the UCF College of Nursing, noted that the growing population in Central Florida exacerbates the nursing shortage. The college is set to move into a new facility in Lake Nona this August, which will allow them to educate an additional 150 graduates annually who are eligible for licensure.
“Those nurses tend to stay in Central Florida and the state,” Sole told News 6.
Koo, who is set to graduate this spring, has already secured a position as an emergency department nurse.
Reflecting on her journey, she acknowledged the demanding nature of the job but also the rewarding moments, stating, “The best is when a patient comes to you and says thank you for the care that you have given me.”