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Jacksonville University, Baptist Health announce accelerated nursing program
Jacksonville UniversityFebruary 16, 2021 GMT
Jacksonville, FL, Feb. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Advancing its commitment to enhance the quality of health care by graduating exceptional, job-ready nurses, Jacksonville University announced a catalytic new program in partnership with Baptist Health that will rapidly address the increasing need for qualified nurses in Northeast Florida.
The Jacksonville University and Baptist Health 12 Month Second Degree BSN Program offers qualified individuals an accelerated path to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 12 months with the opportunity to earn a work-promise agreement from Baptist Health upon graduation and licensure.
Jacksonville University announced a program in partnership with Baptist Health that offers students a bachelor’s in nursing in 12 months.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened the demand for talented, qualified nurses to care for Florida’s growing and aging population, especially with tens of thousands of experienced nurses approaching retirement in the next 10 years in our state,” said JU President Tim Cost in a news release Feb. 16.
“We want to close that gap, and it’s fitting that we will tackle this challenge with our longtime partners at Baptist Health, who first joined us in 1981 to develop and launch Jacksonville University’s school of nursing.”
Baptist Health begins COVID-19 vaccinations for staff in Jacksonville
About 250 front-line health care staff at Jacksonville-based Baptist Health began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Friday.
The voluntary vaccinations were offered first to physicians and other medical professionals in COVID-19 units, intensive care units and emergency centers.
Tujuana Dudley, nurse manager at a COVID-19 unit at Baptist Medical Center South, was the first in line. I know it’s my duty to receive the vaccine to keep those around me safe, said Dudley, who lost a family member recently to COVID-19. From the time the pandemic first arrived in March, we’ve seen firsthand how COVID-19 can impact patients, their families and our community.
The Florida Times-Union
5:30 p.m. | Northeast Florida adds 1,172 new coronavirus cases
Northeast Florida saw another big one-day spike in coronavirus cases on Thursday, with the Florida Department of Health reporting 1,172 new cases in the six-county area.
The jump in cases follows Wednesday s record-setting 1,233 new cases reported in 24 hours, which was the biggest single-day jump since the state began reporting the data. The region, especially Duval County, has seen a growing outbreak in the last two weeks.
St. Johns County accounted for the region s only additional death in the state s daily report. | Read more
4 p.m. | Staff vaccinations for COVID-19 begin at Ascension St Vincent s Jacksonville hospitals
Jacksonville-based Baptist Health will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to its health care staff at 7 a.m. Friday.
Brett McClung, president and CEO, will be at the front of the line, followed by staff who work in high-risk areas. I hope to instill confidence in our team members and community that the vaccine is our greatest tool thus far in fighting the pandemic, he said. While vaccines are voluntary for our team members, our hope is that many will be vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and those around them.
Staff at all area Baptist campuses will receive the first of two shots at Baptist Medical Center downtown, said Baptist spokeswoman Cindy Hamilton. Existing COVID-19 safety measures, such as masks, will remain in place for all Baptist staff whether or not they have the vaccine, she said.