College combats nursing shortage with new Sarasota campus

The Arizona College of Nursing isn’t sitting idly by as the registered nurse vacancy rate climbs. Instead, it’s adding locations like the new campus in Sarasota. 

A report released last year by the Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida estimates that the state of Florida will encounter a shortage of 59,100 nurses by 2035. As of the report’s publication date, the state’s RN vacancy rate was at 11%. 

That’s where the new college of nursing comes into play. The Sarasota campus will be the third to enter Florida. It’s located in University Park off of Cooper Creek Boulevard. 

“Nurses are essential to our healthcare system, and the need will only increase as Florida’s population grows,” Alexis Garruzzo, executive director of academic operations at the Sarasota campus, says in a release. “This is an exciting time to pursue a nursing career in Florida, and we are thrilled to open our Sarasota campus. Our accredited, career-focused, BSN program will prepare students for a fulfilling nursing career.”

To help combat the shortage, the Arizona-based college is offering an accelerated program that allows students to earn a Bachelor of Nursing degree in three years or less. The program provides a mix of classroom and hands-on experience through simulation labs and clinical rotations. Additionally, the school offers tutoring, open lab time, counseling and career services, and provides opportunities to join student nursing associations.