Polk State celebrates 100% licensure pass rates for all Health Sciences and Nursing programs

Polk State College celebrated its Health Sciences and Nursing degree programs on Friday at the Center for Public Safety for achieving 100% licensure pass rates, highlighting the College’s success in preparing workforce-ready graduates to meet growing industry needs.

President Anastasios Kamoutsas concluded his first week of service with the celebration, sharing with students, instructors, media and supporters that “this achievement underscores the excellence of our instructors, our rigorous curriculum and our emphasis on hands-on training – preparing students not only to pass exams, but to excel as highly skilled professionals.”

“With an estimated 1 million residents by 2030, the demand for qualified medical professionals continues to grow,” he added. “That is why the state’s allocation of $7.6 million to complete the Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus is so vital.”

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 open in January and 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.

“Working together across disciplines, students must rapidly assess patients, prioritize care, make life-saving decisions, communicate effectively under stress and perform complex procedures,” said Dean of Health Sciences Beth Luckett. “Using advanced simulation equipment and expert guidance, these experiences build confidence, sharpen clinical judgment and ensure that when our graduates step into the field, they are ready to deliver exceptional care to our community.”

Members of the media and College had the opportunity to observe Polk State’s Emergency Medical Services students in simulation scenarios alongside AdventHealth’s NICU/pediatric mobile ICU and EMS transport teams. Opportunities for simulation training scenarios like those held at the state-of-the-art Center for Public Safety will expand with the opening of the Haines City-Davenport Campus.

“We are proud of the partnership that we have created between Polk State and AdventHealth,” said Andrea Ward, Executive Director of Operations for AdventHealth Lake Wales. “It’s really about the students who are able to have these opportunities, who are able to train here and our job site and have forever professional careers.”

Radiography student Megan Duvall shared that choosing a specific Polk State Health Sciences program was difficult because they are all so highly recommended and have the 100% licensure pass rates to prove it.

“The day I got my acceptance letter from the Radiography Program was one of the proudest moments of my life,” Duvall said. “I am so grateful for Polk State’s Health Sciences for bringing me a career I love. I feel so privileged to be this prepared for my future in medicine.”