Tampa General Hospital and USF Team Up to Strengthen Pipeline of Nurses with Training and Education

TGH Invests $4.4 Million in USF Health College of Nursing Simulation Lab.

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and the University of South Florida announced today plans for a new nursing simulation lab at the USF Health College of Nursing to offer advanced training for nurses as they prepare to join the health care workforce. The announcement will be celebrated later today as part of the college's 50^th Anniversary Jubilee Gala at the Tampa Museum of Art, following the annual nursing "pinning ceremonies" for graduating seniors.

"The partnership between the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital continues to provide new and innovative opportunities for our students, faculty and staff to create a healthier future for the Tampa Bay region," said USF President Rhea Law. "The generous support from TGH will further strengthen our USF Health College of Nursing as we prepare nurses for successful careers and help fill an important workforce need in our communities."

TGH is investing $4.4 million over six years to support the planning, construction and implementation of the new lab, which will be named the Tampa General Hospital USF Health College of Nursing Simulation Lab. It will include 12 clinical examination rooms, four simulation learning labs, a multipurpose learning lab, six high-fidelity simulation rooms, six debriefing classrooms and six control rooms. Simulated scenarios will enable nursing students to practice vital signs and patient safety, transitions of care, medicine administration safety, sepsis identification, communication with patients and family teaching, health assessment skills, prioritization of care, recognition of deteriorating patients and calls for help.

"Across the state and around the nation, we're facing a crisis when it comes to our nursing workforce. There will not be enough trained nurses to fill our need to care for patients. That's why we're expanding access to education and training for Tampa Bay nursing students – to grow our pipeline of essential health care professionals in this region," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. "With this new simulation lab, we're using the latest technologies to ensure nurses are not just qualified, but also practiced and experienced in clinical situations. This advanced training will contribute to the exceptional care we provide at TGH and help further improve patient outcomes."

According to a statewide analysis of the health care workforce conducted by the Florida Hospital Association, the state faces an overall shortage of 59,000 nurses by 2035.

"Learning through simulation is a critical aspect of the undergraduate nursing curriculum," said Dr. Usha Menon, dean of the USF Health College of Nursing and senior associate vice president of USF Health. "The generous gift from TGH allows us to sustain a contemporary simulation lab that provides all nursing undergraduate and graduate students with access to state-of-the-art equipment, credentialed faculty, and dedicated space to practice their clinical skills. We are especially grateful to have TGH join us in celebrating our graduating nursing seniors through the pinning ceremony, a key rite of passage as they transition out of the student role and into professional practice."

The USF Health College of Nursing holds a pinning ceremony each semester; summer, fall and spring. It is the culminating event that celebrates each student's achievement and recognizes their dedication to improving and saving lives. The pins worn by the graduating students are symbols of academic and professional excellence.

"Nurses are in many ways the heart of our health care system and work tirelessly day in and day out to take care of patients, families and one another. It is incumbent upon us to make sure that they are supported, celebrated and incentivized to join the ranks of our caring community," said Kelly Cullen, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Tampa General Hospital. "At Tampa General, we do everything we can to recognize our nurses and honor their value, and we are proud to be able to support our new nurses through not only educational opportunities but also in celebrating their achievements."

The USF and Tampa General affiliation began in 1970, when Tampa General became the primary teaching hospital for USF's Morsani College of Medicine and residency programs. The collaboration has significantly strengthened education programs for students across all health disciplines and provided opportunities for students to conduct cutting-edge medical research in a hospital consistently recognized as one of the best in Florida and the United States. The Tampa General system has achieved ANCC Magnet Recognition^® four consecutive times by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing.

"As the demand for nurses increases in Florida and across the country, it's important we endeavor to fill the talent pipeline with capable, dedicated and passionate nurses," said USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman. "I would like to thank John Couris and the entire TGH team for their investment in our nursing students. We are grateful for their steadfast partnership and commitment to student success."

The Jubilee year for the USF Health College of Nursing is 2023, marking 50 years of excellence in nursing education. Tampa General Hospital is proud to sponsor the gala event on Sept. 28, 2023, at the Tampa Museum of Art.

About Tampa General Hospital
Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News and World Report's 2023-24 Best Hospitals, with six specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women and top 25 in Florida in the 2023 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Outpatient Center, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. With campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF serves approximately 50,000 students who represent nearly 150 different countries. U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the nation's top 50 public universities for five consecutive years, and this year USF earned its highest ranking ever among all universities public or private. In 2023, USF became the first public university in Florida in nearly 40 years to be invited to join the Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of the leading universities in the United States and Canada. Through hundreds of millions of dollars in research activity each year and as one of the top universities in the world for securing new patents, USF is a leader in solving global problems and improving lives. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

About the USF Foundation
The USF Foundation connects the university with donors who want to make a difference by providing private, philanthropic support to promote student success, academic initiatives, research, and other strategic priorities of the University of South Florida. Our donors celebrate the energy, vision, and future of one of the country's most exciting and engaged universities. Our people and programs, our ideas, our research, and our solutions comprise an ambitious plan to enhance healthcare, science, technology, education, business, the arts and global partnerships. Learn more at www.giving.usf.edu.

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital