ST. LEO, Fla. — Saint Leo University is celebrating its first graduating class from its new nursing program on Wednesday.
Twelve students will walk the stage and receive their diplomas, and most will quickly begin work in local hospitals after passing the State Board NCLEX exam.
What You Need To Know
- Saint Leo University is celebrating it’s first graduating class from its new nursing program
- Twelve students will walk the stage and receive their diplomas
- Most will quickly begin work in local hospitals after passing the State Board NCLEX exam
- Saint Leo University nursing
Nathanael Allen will be the first of 12 to receive his diploma, and says he decided to get in to nursing because of his family.
His mother is a teacher, and he was raised to help others.
“Being a part of a program that just is going to grow and grow as the years go by, and to be remembered as the first class is really special,” said Allen.
Associate Professor of Nursing Paige Porter said Saint Leo began its nursing program because of the statewide shortage of nurses.
She said Saint Leo partnered with AdventHealth in order to give nursing students hands on experience in local hospitals, and also help them develop contacts that could lead to jobs in the Tampa area.
“A lot of the nursing students have chosen to stay local and work at Advent Health,” Porter said. “And they’ll be working right alongside their preceptors, and at the same time addressing our mission to help impact the nursing shortage locally.”
Saint Leo University plans to expand its nursing program in the coming years with more instructors as well as more classroom space on campus.
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