At the June installment of the Centre Club’s Breakfast with an Executive series, attendees heard a sobering message from Dr. Usha Menon, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. With nearly 900 graduates this year and a nursing program consistently ranked among the top in the state, Dean Menon did not mince words: Florida is still battling a nursing shortage.
The statistics paint a stark picture—Florida is projected to face a shortage of more than 59,000 nurses by 2035. “Nurses are the largest healthcare workforce in the country,” Menon said. “If you’ve had a family member in the hospital, you understand just how critical nursing is.” Burnout continues to mount, and with Tampa Bay’s accelerated population growth, the supply-demand gap is becoming impossible to ignore.
According to Dean Menon, the implications go beyond hospital staffing. “We will start to see people relocate—not for jobs, but just to be able to access care,” she warned. The audience, made up of business leaders, executives, and community stakeholders, was encouraged to consider how this impending shortage affects every sector.
Despite these challenges, the USF College of Nursing continues to be a national leader. For the fourth consecutive year, the college’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program has been ranked No. 1 among Florida’s public universities by U.S. News & World Report. This year, the program climbed to No. 23 nationally, continuing its upward momentum and solidifying its reputation as a leader in graduate nursing education. With 1,782 students (969 undergraduates and 813 graduate students), 297 faculty, and over 15,000 alumni, the college is doing more than its part to meet the need.
USF nursing students perform over 110,000 clinical hours annually in the community through partnerships with 1,200+ clinical organizations. The 97% licensure pass rate is further evidence of the college’s excellence in preparing nurses ready to lead from day one.
Financial support remains a cornerstone of student success, with 220 scholarships totaling $886,000 awarded in the past year alone. Additionally, USF provided $184,169 in emergency scholarships to students in crisis situations—from housing insecurity to natural disasters and food scarcity.
As Dean Menon concluded her remarks, one thing was clear: the road ahead will demand innovation, investment, and collective responsibility. USF College of Nursing is ready—and calling on the broader community to meet the moment.
