$2,000 Gifted to Every Student in Nursing Program’s First Class at UNTHSC
Tarrant County is facing critical nursing staffing challenges, with local officials estimating a need for more than 15,000 additional nurses by 2030—a figure that mirrors a broader crisis across Texas and the nation. But there’s hope: Fort Worth is rolling out bold solutions to address the gap. In 2025, the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) College of Nursing opened its doors, welcoming 30 students into its inaugural class and offering each a $2,000 admission award to help launch their careers.
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Meet the New Faces of Nursing
For students like Moyinoluwa Akindele, the new college is more than just a school—it’s a pathway to purpose. After six years as a military mechanic, Akindele is now training to provide care in combat zones and underserved areas. “I want to provide care in combat zones—especially to those who do not have access to essential medical services,” she said. Akindele’s journey is personal; her mother was a nurse, and she grew up hearing about the profession’s challenges. “It’s not getting better, even though we’re bringing more people to health care,” she reflected.
The Health Science Center’s College of Nursing was created in 2023 to meet the urgent workforce need and to make the field more accessible through scholarships and endowments. Founding Dean Dr. Cindy Weston credits the university’s established infrastructure for making the vision a reality: “We’re rising to that challenge, leveraging the strengths that already exist here at the Health Science Center to prepare nurses to fulfill the needs for the profession,” Weston said.
A Community Solution
The college’s location in Fort Worth’s Medical District was intentional. Most nurses stay close to where they train, so the hope is that new graduates will help fill open roles in Dallas-Fort Worth hospitals. The need is urgent: North Texas is currently short about 7,000 nurses, and that number is expected to double by 2030. Statewide, Texas faces a projected shortfall of nearly 60,000 nurses by 2032.
Other local institutions are stepping up as well. The University of North Texas Health Science Center recently opened a state-of-the-art simulation center, and Texas Christian University’s Harris College continues to prepare nurses with a focus on cultural competence and global health.
Making Nursing Accessible
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) the cost of a nursing degree can be daunting, with students taking on nearly $30,000 in debt on average. The Health Science Center is working to change that by providing generous scholarships and financial aid. Every student in the inaugural class received a $2,000 admission award, and the college’s new senior director of development, Cathy Neece Brown, is focused on securing even more funding and endowments for future students.
Innovation at the Heart of the Mission
Dean Weston and her team have made innovation a core part of the curriculum, preparing graduates not just as bedside caregivers but as innovators and problem solvers. “We believe that nurses are not only the healers at the bedside, but the scientists championing discoveries that advance health in our communities,” Weston said.
Guest speakers like Rebecca Love, a national advocate for nurse entrepreneurship, have inspired students to embrace their role as innovators. “If we started to give to our profession the way we give to our patients, this profession will be unstoppable,” Love told students during National Nurses Month.
Brandy’s Story: From Pre-Nursing to Nursing School Success
I personally experienced the transformative power of supportive faculty and hands-on learning in my pre-nursing courses at a local campus before the new nursing program launched. The curriculum gave me the foundation I needed to gain admission to nursing school and, later, to serve for over 15 years as a nurse at a local children’s hospital in Tarrant County. The connections I made with classmates and mentors. It has shaped my journey and deepened my commitment to patient care.
Looking Ahead
For anyone considering a career in nursing, Fort Worth and Tarrant County offer opportunity, innovation, and a community ready to support the next generation. With new programs, scholarships, and a focus on both education and retention, the region is paving the way for a stronger, more resilient nursing workforce.
