Galen College plans to open nursing school in Gainesville amid national staffing shortage
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Galen College of Nursing, a private nursing college, announced Thursday plans to open campuses in Gainesville and Sarasota, bringing its footprint in Florida to four sites.
The Galen College campus in Gainesville will be at the former Infinite Energy campus on SW 24th Avenue which closed after Infinite Energy was acquired by Atlanta-based Gas South in October 2020.
Galen College is owned by Nashville-based HCA Healthcare, which also owns North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville and several associated clinics. HCA announced plans recently to build a second hospital in Gainesville on Archer Road at I-75.
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“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Galen College of Nursing to Gainesville and we look forward to our consistent collaboration which stands to be of significant benefit to our patients, colleagues, and the communities we serve now and in the future,” said Eric Lawson, CEO of North Florida Regional Medical Center, in an email from a hospital spokesperson.
The first term for new students will consist of online education instead of in-person classes. Admissions appointments can be scheduled by calling (877) 223-7040 or visiting galencollege.edu.
Galen College students in Florida taking the licensing exam for licensed practical nurses passed at 94% in 2019, compared to a national average of 86%. Those in the program for registered nurses with an associate's degree passed at 94%, compared to a national average of 85%.
The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks workforce data, projects job openings for 194,500 registered nurses each year through 2030 to fill new positions or replace retiring nurses. The median annual pay for an RN nationally was $75,330 in 2020, according to the federal bureau.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: HCA-owned nursing college plans campuses in Gainesville, Sarasota
