BRADENTON, Fla. — State College of Florida will launch a new dual-language nursing program this fall, marking the first initiative of its kind in the Tampa Bay area.
Key Information
- Instructors in the two-year dual-language program will instruct in both English and Spanish.
- The program aims to assist Spanish-speaking students in passing the NCLEX exam, which is conducted in English.
- Initially, SCF will start with a cohort of eight students this fall, with plans to expand to 24 students the following year.
- This program will be available exclusively at the Bradenton location on 26th Street West.
Carlos Alana is currently enrolled in the Associate of Science Nursing program at State College of Florida–Manatee-Sarasota. Having relocated from Spain to Bradenton four years ago, he serves as a nurse intern at a local hospital.
“I have family and friends who share my background, and I’m here to help them,” Alana expressed.
This fall, he’ll participate in the region’s pioneering dual-language nursing program.
“It’s a tremendous advantage,” he noted. “Enhancing our knowledge in our native language, Spanish, can significantly improve our understanding in the nursing field.”
The two-year dual-language program will feature faculty fluent in both English and Spanish.
SCF anticipates commencing the program with eight students.
Tammy Sawmelle, the dean of Nursing and Education at SCF, emphasized the program’s potential to boost pass rates among students. “Our current licensure pass rate stands at 99%. However, we discovered that the students who were struggling to pass were primarily Spanish-speaking,” she explained.
The program will also cater to English-speaking students looking to enhance their Spanish skills. “During English instruction, they can pose questions in their native language. Skills labs will be conducted in English, while bilingual instructors will help integrate both languages during clinical practice,” added Sawmelle.
Alana believes this approach will enable him to provide better care to future patients. “Now I can compare the terminology and knowledge I have in English while merging it with what I learn in Spanish. It’s an incredible opportunity,” he stated.
He hopes the new instructional method will enhance his ability to assist patients in both languages.
Next year, SCF predicts the program will expand to include 24 students.
Article original publish date: 2025-05-17 02:06:00
Article source: www.baynews9.com
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