Our recent virtual event, "Partnerships to Promote Student Success," focused on addressing Florida’s critical nursing shortage by exploring collaborative strategies aimed at improving student success, retention, and workforce preparation. Led by Rayna Letourneau, Executive Director of the Florida Center for Nursing, the webinar brought together a panel of experts who showcased successful academic and industry partnerships that are making a tangible impact in nursing education across the state.
The first presentation was delivered by Kathleen Cappo, Dean of Health Sciences at South Florida State College, who highlighted their partnership with AdventHealth. Kathleen’s presentation focused on their innovative use of a student success coach, a role embedded within their nursing program to provide personalized, targeted support to students. This coach engages directly with students in both classroom and lab settings, addressing academic barriers and personal challenges, including time management and self-care. Kathleen emphasized how this holistic approach, which includes access to tutoring, financial aid, and health sciences advising, has been instrumental in improving retention and student outcomes. The success coach initiative has enabled students to overcome challenges, stay on track, and ultimately succeed in their nursing programs.
The second portion of the webinar was co-led by Dr. Elizabeth (Betty) Jordan, Senior Associate Dean of Student Success at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing, and myself. Together, we shared the success of the partnership between USF and Knack, a peer tutoring strategy that has dramatically enhanced academic support for nursing students. Through this initiative, USF nursing students have access to high-achieving peers who serve as tutors, offering both academic assistance and mentorship. Betty and I discussed how peer tutoring not only fosters a sense of belonging but also improves academic performance and boosts students' confidence—key elements for retaining nursing students and ensuring their success on critical exams like the NCLEX.
This partnership has yielded remarkable results at USF. Over the span of a year, the university saw a 354% increase in peer tutoring sessions, with more than 960 students participating in tutoring. Additionally, USF’s NCLEX pass rate soared to over 95%, a significant improvement that underscores the impact of offering students targeted, timely support. Our peer-to-peer tutoring initiative empowers students by giving them the flexibility to access tutoring when they need it most, often outside traditional office hours, which has been crucial in accommodating the demanding schedules of nursing students.
Throughout the event, the broader theme remained clear: improving student success is vital to addressing Florida’s projected shortage of 60,000 nurses by 2035. Each speaker underscored the importance of fostering academic-industry partnerships that go beyond traditional methods to support students holistically. Whether through success coaches or peer tutoring initiatives, the focus is on ensuring students not only stay in school but thrive, ultimately entering the workforce as well-prepared and confident professionals.
In my discussion with Betty, we emphasized how the collaboration between USF and Knack is more than just a tutoring initiative—it is a comprehensive strategy that aligns academic and industry goals to create lasting impacts. The success stories, such as that of Tiffany, one of USF’s top nursing tutors who used her experience to excel in her career, highlight the dual benefits: students receive academic support while peer tutors gain real-world experience and critical soft skills that prepare them for the nursing profession.
The webinar concluded with a clear takeaway: public-private partnerships are essential to combat the nursing shortage and improve student success. By implementing holistic strategies that center on the student experience, we can create an educational environment where students feel supported, empowered, and ready to meet the demands of the healthcare workforce. Through these collaborative efforts, we can strengthen the pipeline of future nurses and ensure that Florida’s healthcare system is equipped to meet the challenges ahead.
Book a call with Knack to learn how our peer learning strategy can help with retention and improved academic performance at your institution.
