Polk State Nursing earns top spot in Florida thanks to investments from state and healthcare partners

Polk State College’s Nursing Program ranks among the top Associate in Science in Nursing programs in Florida when evaluated by both first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and program size, boasting a remarkable 97.4% first-time licensure pass rate for the 2025 reporting period, a large graduating cohort and sustained multi-year performance above state and national averages.

These achievements underscore the impact of strategic investments from the state and local healthcare partners, which have funded state-of-the-art simulation centers on both the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses, including a new fully simulated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that opened in the fall.

These enhancements, supported by the Florida Department of Education, which matched funds invested by AdventHealth, BayCare, Lakeland Regional Health and Orlando Health through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) grant program, have increased the program’s capacity and have been invested directly into student success.

“The enhancements to our laboratories were driven by our teaching techniques, bringing in real-life healthcare scenarios and allowing students to practice in simulated environments that mirror actual clinical settings,” said Dr. Deleise Wilson, Polk State AdventHealth Dean of Nursing. “This powerful combination of updated curriculum, state-of-the-art skills practice and high-fidelity simulation laboratories reinforces the application of clinical decision-making, which is at the core of what we do.”

Since 2022, Polk State Nursing has received approximately $4.6 million in grant funding through the LINE, PIPELINE (Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers and Learners Through Incentives for Nursing Education) and Perkins programs.

Renovations completed in 2024-2025 upgraded classrooms and laboratories, shifting from theatre-style lecture halls to interactive spaces equipped with data ports, electrical outlets and AV technology. With the click of a button, the spaces can go from a computer lab set up for testing to flattop tables ready for hands-on demonstrations and practice.

On the Winter Haven Campus, the main classroom seats 120 students, while four flex-practice rooms and four high-fidelity simulation rooms house 38 beds, including pediatric cribs, birthing beds and 36 manikins ranging from high-fidelity simulators to static models. On the Lakeland Campus, two classrooms combine to seat up to 184 students, and three laboratories contain 24 total manikins and a new four-bed simulation lab with two ICU beds equipped with simulated ventilators.

Laura Glidewell, Director of Human Simulation for the Nursing Program, called the upgraded facilities “a wonderland of educational awesomeness.”

“The students benefit from this type of simulated learning environment because they’re able to learn something in class and then see it come to life before they get to the hospital and encounter it with a patient,” she explained. “We use simulation for teaching and learning; we use it for evaluation of student performance and outcomes at the end of each semester and then we use it to augment the learning in the clinical setting.”

Students credit the realistic simulations for building their confidence and readiness.

“When it comes to the technology at Polk State Nursing, it’s amazing,” said student James Cedric Fontilus. “As a Nursing 4 student, we do ICU and ER at clinicals, and this is a perfect replica. It prepares you…., you go back to real life and there’s no surprises.”

Student Stacey McCastlain added the hands-on benefits and muscle memory training.

“Being able to interact with the monitors and the computers…, makes it feel a bit more real,” she said. “A lot of the equipment that we’re using is the same as in the hospitals. When we get to the hospital on our clinical days, it’s not our first time putting our hands on the equipment.”

Polk State’s 97.4% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate not only leads comparable large-cohort public programs but also surpasses Florida’s statewide average between 85% and 86%, as well as the national benchmark. This success attracts students like McCastlain, who chose Polk State Nursing for its reputation.

“They have an excellent reputation, and they’re known for having an extremely high pass rate for the NCLEX,” he said. “When it comes to Polk State, everybody’s so encouraging. I chose a rigorous program because I want to be prepared.”

As Polk State continues to invest in its Nursing Department, the program stands as a model for excellence, equipping graduates to meet the demands of healthcare in Central Florida and beyond.

“These achievements highlight the impact of our partnerships and the state’s support in preparing highly skilled nurses for our community,” Dr. Wilson said.