FSHCC Commends Budget Proposal to Reward All High-Performing Nursing Schools

The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC) today voiced its support for a Senate budget amendment adopted last week to provide $500,000 in grant funding.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC) today voiced its support for a Senate budget amendment adopted last week to provide $500,000 in grant funding to private colleges offering high-performing nursing education programs but urged lawmakers to increase that amount to better support the state’s growing demand for nurses. To qualify for the grant funds, the colleges must be accredited and have achieved at least 70% first-time nursing licensure exam pass rates.

FSHCC recognizes that Florida’s severe shortage of nurses is not only a workforce issue but could cause widespread harm to the health and wellness of millions of Floridians. According to the Florida Hospital Association, the state must add 60,000 more nurses by 2035 to meet projected health care needs.

“While Hispanics have powered Florida’s recent growth, the state will only continue to be such a magnet for Latino migration from other states and countries if it can take action now to prepare for the future needs of residents,” said Julio Fuentes, president of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Our health and wellness must be at the forefront of state leaders’ plans, including ensuring that we have enough medical professionals to take care of all Floridians, today and tomorrow.”

According to the National Academy of Medicine, Hispanic students make up 32.5% of students in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs at private schools, but only 24% at public nursing schools. The Florida Legislature admirably provided $79 million to high-performing public nursing schools in 2022, but those funds did nothing to help the disproportionately high number of Hispanic students attending private nursing schools.

Further, Hispanics make up only about 15% of nurses in Florida, despite being more than 25% of the state’s population. By training more Hispanic nurses, Florida leaders can help to overcome long-standing health disparities among Hispanic communities.

The Senate’s action to provide additional funding to high-performing private nursing schools will help Florida’s Hispanic communities become healthier and more prosperous for many years to come.

“This amendment to incentivize private nursing colleges will motivate more schools to properly prepare their students for the workforce, which is what our state needs to address the ongoing nursing shortage. The Hispanic Chamber encourages state lawmakers to support this amendment so Florida has more quality nurses to care for our loved ones,” added Fuentes.