The State of the Nursing Workforce in Florida
Nurses are a critical part of the healthcare system. Even before COVID-19, there was an increasing nursing shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the gaps in healthcare and only served to increase the demand for nurses. According to the American Nurses Association, in the United States, it is projected that 1.1 million nurses are needed to replace retiring nurses.
This meeting will focus on the current state of the nursing workforce in Florida and offer unique perspectives and strategies for supporting nurses in our state.
Dr. Letourneau will present key findings from the Florida Center for Nursing's August 2023 'State of the Nursing Workforce in Florida' report. In her presentation, she will go beyond the data and discuss the multitude of factors contributing to the nursing shortage that must be addressed to help fill the gap. She will also point out findings pertinent to health funders considering or working on this critical issue.
Dr. Rosario-Schoepp will discuss the Health Foundation of South Florida's unique strategies to retain and support nurses. These strategies are built on partnerships with academia and hospital systems. The Health Foundation of South Florida has also taken meaningful steps to instill an equity focus into their strategy.
Featured Speakers
Rayna M. Letourneau, PhD, RN
Executive Director, Florida Center for Nursing
Dr. Letourneau, is the Executive Director of the Florida Center for Nursing, an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, and the president-elect of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. She has more than 20 years of nursing experience with a clinical background in emergency nursing and teaching experience in undergraduate and graduate nursing and interprofessional courses. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Rhode Island in 2002 an 2008, respectively. In 2017, she earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Janisse Rosario-Schoepp, PhD, MPH
Chief Strategy Officer, Health Foundation of South Florida
Dr. Rosario- Schoepp serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the Health Foundation of South Florida. Since joining the foundation in 2014, she has expertly guided the development and implementation of new approaches and initiatives that advance the Foundation's health equity agenda. She also serves as a thought leader internally and externally, informing the Foundation's overall direction, strategic partnerships, and investments in the community. Recently, Dr. Rosario-Schoepp work to establish the South Florida Anchor Alliance, a model initiative to engage regional institutions, such as hospitals and universities, in community wealth-building strategies to address the social determinants of health. Dr. Rosario-Schoepp holds a Master and a Doctorate of Public Health, both from Florida International University.
Find a copy of the recent State of the Nursing Workforce report here
Time will be built into the agenda for member updates and information sharing.
This meeting is FREE and open to all FPN members. Registration is required to receive login information!
For programmatic questions, please contact Geula Ferguson
For registration issues, please email here.
