State, private donors help grow the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree as well as creating dedicated, immersive learning environment.
Saint Leo University celebrated the grand opening of its new nursing space on the second floor of Benedictine Hall today (Thursday, February 6) marking the university’s commitment to educating the next generation of nurses to serve Florida, Pasco County, the Tampa Bay area, and the nation. The grand opening, postponed from October due to Hurricane Milton, featured a ribbon-cutting, prayer and blessing, opening remarks, and tours.
“Our repurposed, state-of-the-art simulation and learning space on the second floor of Benedictine Hall continues the caring legacy of the Benedictine Sisters [of Florida] who once resided here [Holy Name Priory, 1960-2014],” said Dr. Kathleen Van Eerden, dean of the College of Health Professions. “The new high-tech nursing classrooms and simulated clinical settings provide immersive learning environments that prepare graduates for safe practice.”
The second floor is devoted to the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program with 2,158 square feet renovated out of 4,256 square feet — allowing for more spaces to be created and dedicated to health care in the future. The second floor includes two conference rooms, two classrooms, five offices, three simulation rooms, one assessment room, and one simulation control room.
The simulation rooms are complete with human patient simulators including a child, a pregnant mother and newborn, and an adult model that Saint Leo nursing students use to practice their skills. The simulators are life size and mimic human appearance. They are mechanical and computer-controlled to show symptoms and the way diseases affect a body — just like they present in a human patient.
“The simulators have blinking eyes, heart, lung, and bowel sounds, pulses, blood pressure, and more,” Van Eerden said. “Faculty can adjust the simulator to mimic various diagnoses and conditions.” The “mom” simulator can go into “labor,” experience difficulties, and “give birth” to the newborn simulator — all great practical learning experiences for the nursing students.
Bella Romeo, a junior nursing student, describes the new nursing floor as “home.”
“I feel welcomed and at home here,” Romeo said. “We all come together here; we share ideas, and we work as one. This is a no judgement zone. We know we can make mistakes and learn from them.”
Romeo is interested in becoming a geriatric nurse with the hopes of one day owning a small facility for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Funding the Building Project and Program
State funding as well as private donations helped build the nursing program and pay for renovation costs as well as equipment, hiring of faculty and staff, and other needs. The university recognized the urgent need for nurses and launched the bachelor’s degree program in 2021 and created the College of Health Professions, which includes the bachelor's and master's programs in social work. The Florida Legislature designated $740,000 for the nursing program and building in its 2023-2024 budget.
Data from the Florida Hospital Association shows Florida is experiencing a shortage of nurses and projects a deficit of about 59,000 by 2035 while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the country will need more than 200,000 registered nurses from now through 2031. By the end of its first five years of operation, Saint Leo’s nursing program is expected to add nearly 200 nurses to the workforce.
“Thank you for helping us strengthen the future of health care, one nurse at a time,” University President Ed Dadez said to those gathered for the grand opening.
Free Housing for Saint Leo Nursing Students
In Fall Semester 2024, more than 70 students who hope to become nurses received free housing from Saint Leo when the university for the first time offered the Nursing Housing Award. This award offered an annual financial aid award of $7,680 to cover on-campus housing costs. To qualify, students must meet all eligibility criteria, the pre-nursing admissions requirements for the first two years, and the nursing school admission requirements for the last two years of the program.
Saint Leo again is offering the Nursing Housing Award for Fall Semester 2025 and applications are being accepted. Classes begin on August 25. Students interested in the Nursing Housing Award should begin by submitting their application. Once accepted, they must submit their admissions deposit and housing application.
Dedicated Education Units with AdventHealth Zephyrhills and Dade City
In spring 2024, Saint Leo University’s nursing program formed an innovative partnership with AdventHealth Zephyrhills, creating a Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) to train future nurses and possible future employees for the hospital. In the DEU model, the student is paired with a nurse preceptor or mentor from AdventHealth. The students worked side-by-side for 12-hour shifts with their mentors and university nursing instructor Paige Porter.
The DEU program has expanded this year, and Saint Leo nursing students now are assigned to AdventHealth Dade City in addition to AdventHealth Zephyrhills. The university and AdventHealth share a focus on growth and health of the body, mind, and spirit. And just as Saint Leo’s nursing program emphasizes the well-being of the clinician/nurse, so does AdventHealth, making it a great partnership, Porter said. “AdventHealth has such a culture of care, for the employees as well as the patient,” she added. “This pairs with the core values of Saint Leo.”
With the opening of the new dedicated nursing space, “Saint Leo is positioned to prepare a new generation of nurses for our region, state, and nation,” Van Eerden, the dean said. With our new contemporary learning space and our program focus on the core values and caring we know that our Saint Leo nursing graduates will make a difference.”