HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital becomes dedicated education hospital
HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital has become a Dedicated Education Hospital (DEH), a milestone that marks a transformative shift in how it trains future nurses and deliver care to our community. In partnership with Indian River State College (IRSC), this initiative integrates nursing education directly into the hospital setting, where students learn alongside experienced nurses in real-time.
What Is a Dedicated Education Hospital?
Unlike traditional clinical rotations, the DEH model embeds nursing students into hospital units for the duration of their training. Students are paired with nurse preceptors and faculty mentors, gaining hands-on experience and building confidence in a supportive, structured environment.
Kris Poitier, assistant vice president of academic engagement & strategies for HCA Healthcare’s East Florida Division, explains: “This is so much more than offering a clinical education and training for these students. This is really a partnership and could be the launch of their career journey with us.”
Dr. Patricia Gagliano, Dean of Nursing at Indian River State College, added, “A dedicated education hospital is a living classroom, where hospital units are structured for student learning, seamlessly blending education and patient care to benefit everyone involved: students, hospitals, staff and most importantly, patients.”
Benefits for Students and Staff
Students gain enhanced clinical competence, faster professional socialization and stronger readiness for their licensing exam. They also build relationships with hospital teams, which fosters a trusting work environment and encourages open communication.
“They build that psychological safety, which improves the care that our patients receive,” said Tracee Hendershott, chief nursing officer at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital. “It’s also a consistent suppot system for our experienced nurses, because they have the extra hands of these students who are learning from them and are committed to our same values.”
For nurses and hospital staff, the DEH model offers a reliable pipeline of future colleagues who are already familiar with the hospital’s culture, standards and expectations. This leads to higher retention rates and smoother transitions from student to staff nurse.
Impact on patient care
The DEH model directly enhances patient care by ensuring that new nurses are well-prepared and deeply connected to the hospital’s mission and values. “They understand our mission — above all else, we’re committed to the care and improvement of human life… For these new nurses, it’s ingrained,” said Poitier.
Patients at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital will be cared for by experienced and new nurses who trained in the very units they now serve, ensuring continuity, familiarity and a high standard of care.
A community investment
This initiative is part of a broader academic-practice partnership that includes HCA Healthcare's East Florida Division, St. Lucie Hospital’s sister facility HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital and IRSC’s School of Nursing. It reflects a shared commitment to addressing nurse staffing resiliency and building a stronger healthcare workforce on the Treasure Coast.
In 2023, HCA Healthcare East Florida Division provided $100,000 in scholarships to IRSC nursing students, and in 2024, invested $250,000 to support nursing faculty. Both investments were matched by the state to double the impact.
Looking ahead
With cohorts of 20 students now embedded in both St. Lucie and Lawnwood hospitals, the DEH initiative is poised to redefine nursing education and care delivery in the region.
This is more than a partnership. It’s a promise to patients, colleagues and the communities we serve that we are investing in the future of healthcare, right here at home. Explore our specialty care services and connect with one of our expert caregivers now.