Triumph Gulf Coast Awards $21 Million Grant for Expansion of Nursing Program at Northwest Florida State College
January 3, 2023
NICEVILLE, Fla.– The Triumph Gulf Coast board has awarded Northwest Florida State College $21,787,560 for its Nursing Program Expansion project.
Triumph Gulf Coast is a competitive development fund in Northwest Florida that supports infrastructure needs and develops industry-driven workforce and education training programs.
With the support from Triumph Gulf Coast, the College will be able to meet health care industry needs and expand the availability of qualified nurses throughout Northwest Florida.
The Nursing Program Expansion project consists of four parts: the renovation of the Niceville Campus Health Sciences building, the integration of instructional enhancements through virtual technology, professional development for faculty, and increased accessibility of pre-nursing coursework to support a pipeline of students.
Project priorities include renovations, equipment purchases to support capacity needs, and the implementation of teaching technologies and strategies that improve learner outcomes while accelerating the learning process. To date, NWFSC’s Nursing Program has a long-term record of success in simulation-enhanced instruction that allows students to strengthen patient care skills in controlled environments prior to real-world application.
The project’s impact is expected to extend throughout both Okaloosa and Walton counties with additional education and employment opportunities provided to individuals located throughout the eight disproportionately affected counties.
“Northwest Florida State College recognizes the critical need for a dramatic increase in qualified nurses throughout Northwest Florida,” said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “We are proud to offer excellent health sciences programs that boast a reputation for exceptional instruction and are known for meeting high standards of excellence. With the support from Triumph Gulf Coast, the College stands ready to expand its program resources and services as it proactively recruits and trains nursing students to meet urgent staffing needs in the region.”
The College’s A.S. in Nursing (ASN) program is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and boasts NCLEX pass rates that have exceeded state averages by double digits for the past 14 years. The job placement rate for NWFSC nursing graduates remains greater than 98%, with students having positions lined up prior to program completion.
The ASN program is expected to graduate an additional 40 new nurses in the Fall and Spring2026 semesters, while the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is expected to graduate an additional 20 nurses in the Fall and Spring 2027 semesters.
For more information on the Nursing program at Northwest Florida State College, please contact please contact Tanya Beauregard, NWFSC Director of Nursing, at beauregt@nwfsc.edu or 850-729- 6400.