ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is aiming to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the state’s workforce through his “Floridians First” budget. A key focus is addressing the critical shortage of nurses in Florida.
The governor has set aside $130 million for nursing education programs in his latest budget proposal. While the funding is not yet guaranteed, nursing schools are optimistic about the potential support.
At NUC University, non-traditional students thrive, especially in their nursing programs.
“They get hands-on training, both here through simulation with high-fidelity mannequins and also in the clinical environment, out with our partners in the community,” NUC University Florida Technical College President Dr. James Michael Burkett explained.
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Students at NUC can pursue credentials as LPNs, RNS and BSNs among other programs. The Kissimmee campus was opened to help fill a critical nursing gap in the region.
“We’re heavily involved in Osceola County and Central Florida overall, and there is a critical nursing shortage, not only a critical nursing shortage, but a critical nursing shortage of people who are bilingual and able to communicate with the residents of this area,” he said.
A 2021 report from the Florida Hospital Association projected a shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses in Florida by 2035, driven by the state’s aging and growing population.
“So nursing is even more important here in Florida,” Burkett said.
In his 2026-27 proposed budget, DeSantis announced the $130 million allocation for nursing education programs to help reduce nursing vacancies. Educators believe this investment will encourage more people to enter the nursing field.
“A lot of the students that we get, they are already working, or they have school-aged children, so they have a lot of commitments. They’re not the person who just school is their full-time job. So the availability of funding from the governor, I think is really going to help and be able to infuse some great talent into those professions,” Burkett said.
Starting in January, NUC University is lowering its tuition to further support students hoping to enter the workforce.
“It is with our diploma programs and some degree programs. It ranges per program. So we have programs where it’s 5% all the way up to our bachelor’s degree in psychology had a 36% reduction in tuition,” Burkett explained.
[VIDEO: Gov. DeSantis announces budget proposal]