Indian River State College (IRSC) in Fort Pierce, Florida, has received a four-year federal grant of $3.25 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). The funding, through the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) – Workforce Expansion Program, will support Project NURSe. This initiative aims to address the nursing shortage in Florida, especially in rural and medically underserved areas along the Treasure Coast.
Florida is expected to have a shortage of 37,400 registered nurses by 2035, according to the Florida Hospital Association and the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida. The shortage is more pronounced in rural counties like Okeechobee and St. Lucie. IRSC President Timothy E. Moore, Ph.D., said the grant will help recruit and train local students to work in their communities.
With the HRSA grant, IRSC’s School of Nursing plans to increase its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program enrollment to 475 students by fall 2026. The college expects to graduate over 140 registered nurses each year, with many working in rural and underserved areas. The grant will support hiring more staff, faculty, and clinical preceptors to maintain program standards and accreditation…