USF College of Nursing improves student simulation training thanks to $470,000 in state funds and collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children’s and Moffitt Cancer Center

TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2022) – The Florida Board of Governors approved two Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) proposals to enhance collaboration between the USF Health College of Nursing and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation and Moffitt Cancer Center last week.

Both collaborations will allow nursing students to gain increased access to high-fidelity simulation training. The funds will directly impact the ability to expand simulation educational activities for students on all USF campuses by increasing simulation education experiences and reducing the demand for our health care partners to provide direct clinical training hours for the increased number of students.

Moffitt Cancer Center Senior Director of Nursing Practice, Sheila Ferrall, USF College of Nursing Dean, Dr. Usha Menon, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital VP & CNO, Melissa Macogay gather for the college’s quarterly Chief Nursing Officer Mastermind luncheon.

Earlier this year, the Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis established the LINE fund for nursing schools to encourage collaboration between nursing education programs and health care partners. LINE funding is intended to increase the capacity of high-quality nursing education programs and the number of nursing graduates who are prepared to enter the workforce.

This year, under the leadership of Senate President Wilton Simpson and Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls, the Legislature and Gov. DeSantis made a significant investment in education and workforce programs to increase Florida’s nursing workforce. Through this investment, in addition to the LINE funding, USF received $33 million for the USF Health College of Nursing to expand its infrastructure and current footprint on USF’s Tampa campus with enhanced simulation training space and $6.9 million in recurring funding for the college to hire faculty and staff who will support the expansion and student success.

“We are so grateful to Gov. DeSantis, and the Florida Legislature, the Florida Board of Governors, and our outstanding partners, Johns Hopkins All Children’s and Moffitt Cancer Center,” said Usha Menon, RN, PhD, FAAN, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. “This funding creates a unique opportunity to expand simulation training for our nursing students, allowing us to partner with health care organizations on both education of nurses and enhanced transition to professional practice.”

Johns Hopkins All Children’s and USF College of Nursing Partnership

Through this partnership with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation and the dollar-for-dollar match from the state, the College of Nursing will provide nursing students on the St. Petersburg campus with access to high-fidelity simulation training. This is the first time in the history of the college that this simulation training will be provided in St. Petersburg.  Nursing students will practice in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s state-of-the-art simulation center.

Program Cost:

• Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation contribution = $391,856
• LINE contribution (dollar-for-dollar match) = $391,856
• Total cost for simulation equipment, space, and staff = $751,911

Moffitt Cancer Center & USF College of Nursing Partnership

USF Health College of Nursing will increase access to new, high-quality simulation activities for students learning to care for oncology patients by bringing modern high-fidelity equipment into the simulation laboratory for students across all three campuses. This immersive and dynamic teaching-learning environment replicates clinical scenarios in the lab and allows for a seamless transition to practice opportunities for USF students and Moffitt nurse residents through shared space and experiential activities.

Program Cost:

• Moffitt Cancer Center contribution = $82,000
• LINE contribution (dollar-for-dollar match) = $82,000
• Total cost for the simulation equipment and space = $164,000