Polk State announces 100% licensure pass rates across all Health Sciences and Nursing programs
Polk State College is proudly celebrating 100% licensure pass rates for all seven of its Health Sciences and Nursing degree programs. This accomplishment underscores the excellence of the College’s instructors, curriculum and hands-on training that prepare students to successfully meet Polk County’s growing healthcare demands. This also supports the state’s recent allocation of $7.6 million to complete the construction of the Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus, which will house many of the Health Sciences programs and is slated to open in January.
The media is invited to learn more on Friday, July 10, at 10 a.m. at the Polk State Center for Public Safety, 1251 Jim Keene Blvd. in Winter Haven. Remarks will be provided by President Anastasios Kamoutsas, Dean of Health Sciences Beth Luckett and Radiography student Megan Duvall. A tour will follow, including a simulated scenario that will showcase the interdisciplinary training that results in 100% licensure pass rates, and that will expand with the new campus. Representatives from AdventHealth will also be participating.
“Our students’ perfect licensure pass rates prove that Polk State is delivering world-class education. The new Haines City-Davenport Campus will allow us to scale these successful programs, further address workforce shortages and continue serving our community with highly trained graduates,” Kamoutsas said. “This reinforces the necessity of the College’s expansion to train even more qualified healthcare professionals. Polk County is projected to reach 1 million residents by 2030, signaling exponential growth and a critical need for expanded healthcare resources.”
Programs boasting 100% licensure pass rates include Cardiovascular Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Paramedic, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiography and Respiratory Care.
The Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus will allow for the expansion of these programs so that Polk State can train even more healthcare professionals. It will also debut Central Florida’s first public higher education interdisciplinary simulation hospital – a state-of-the-art training environment designed to prepare students for real-world clinical scenarios.
Polk State Nursing – recently ranked No. 1 in Florida for its Associate in Science degree program, compared to state colleges of similar size – benefits from exceptional facilities on the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses. This is possible through state support and investments from AdventHealth, BayCare, Lakeland Regional Health and Orlando Health. However, nursing students will also train in the simulated environment at the Haines City-Davenport Campus with their peers from other healthcare disciplines, allowing students to work together as they would in a hospital or as a member of a healthcare team.
“The new campus represents a major investment in Polk County’s future, enabling the College to increase enrollment in high-demand fields critical to the prosperity of our community,” Kamoutsas said. “We are grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, the Polk County Legislative Delegation, the Polk State District Board of Trustees and the countless advocates and partners who continue to invest in Polk State College, ensuring quality higher education and workforce training for Polk County.”