Nursing School Network

With the nursing shortage in full gear everybody wants to be a nurse. It may surprise you that there are tens of thousands of qualified nursing students being turned away from nursing schools throughout the county. There just isn’t enough faculty to teach the incoming students adding the ever growing shortage of qualified nursing predicted to be over 250,000 by the year 2025.

Since 1990 the Southern Regional Education Board (SERB) has warned that the current nursing shortage and shortage of nurse educator is at critical levels.  A clear example of this is in South Carolina where despite having 24 undergraduate nursing schools, there is a nursing shortage in the hundreds with a 50% dependency on out of state nurses.  One of the main problems facing nursing schools is the lack of funding needed to be able to train the required amount of nurses.

With the newly passed healthcare reform bill and an estimated 30 million soon to access to affordable healthcare, nursing schools will have an even larger strain as the demands for nurses with create an even larger shortage of nursing students. In order to accommodate the million seeking healthcare more nurse educators have to be found and more quality nursing students have to be educated to keep up with healthcare demands.

Source: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/apr/03/03brinson/

The recession may have affected the nursing shortage — more nurses currently working have decided to continue working rather than retire, or have increased their hours from part time to full time, causing fewer openings for nurses — but it will return quickly once the nation’s economy recovers.

And one of the challenges facing nursing schools and programs as they work to train new nurses in a critical shortage of nursing school faculty and facilities to train nursing students.

The Associated Press in October reported on a gathering of nursing education leaders in Portland, Oregon who met to see if they could “find ways to boost the number of faculty in nursing programs.”

One idea they discussed involved what the article called the “Oregon model,” which “blends the curriculum and faculty of community colleges and universities to give nursing students in two-year associate degree programs a chance to earn bachelor’s degrees.”

This will help with the nursing faculty shortage because the “more nurses with bachelor’s, the greater the number expected to go onto advanced degrees and teaching,” according to the article.

This would be especially helpful in bringing younger nurses into faculty positions since most nursing faculty are nearing age 60 — and retirement.

The nursing shortage could mean 50 percent fewer nurses than are needed in Oregon by 2020 (this is compared to a 29 percent shortage nationwide), the article continued.

Yet another problem facing the need to beef up the number of nursing faculty is the issue of faculty salaries — nurses with advanced degrees and years of experience can make considerably more money as a working nurse (working in what nursing experts call the “practice arena”) rather than as a faculty member in a nursing school or program.

Talk to a recent nursing program graduate and you may find him saying “Nursing shortage? You’re kidding right? I can’t find a job!”

So what’s the deal? Is there a shortage — as so many people have been shouting — or not?

Yes, there is. But it’s hidden now in the recession. In fact, the recession possibly has made the coming nursing shortage worse.

An opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer in June put it well:

…“in fact, the recession has given us a temporary reprieve, due to lower demand for elective health services and lower production of nurses.”

The recession has caused some hospitals and other health care facilities to close their door, while nurses who worked part time have upped their hours to full time (due to a desire to make up the income from the job of a laid off spouse).

“As a result,” the opinion piece states, “we are seeing a temporary increase in the ranks of nurses and a decline in nursing vacancies, which is making it harder for some unemployed nurses to find jobs.”

But the day when hospitals will be literally begging for qualified nurses is just around the corner. Hospitals and other health care facilities already know it and are fretting big time that potential nursing students may have changed their minds about entering the profession because they’ve heard that the shortage is exaggerated.

Or, as the Inquirer piece explains it:

“But a long-term nursing shortage persists, and the economic downturn             threatens to exacerbate it in the coming years. That’s because the recession is     creating the false impression that the shortage is over, generating complacency in     the health-care industry and prompting aspiring nurses to think twice before     enrolling in nursing schools. That’s precisely the opposite of what needs to     happen to avert the crisis.

“The shortage is real. A large portion of the nursing workforce is nearing     retirement, and older nurses who stay on the job for a few extra years or return to     work after retirement will soon leave the profession as well. When they do, they     will take decades of wisdom and expertise with them.”

So recent nursing graduates should take heart — many employers will be pounding on their doors soon enough.

As UC Davis prepares to launch a new nursing school under is already well known “School of Medicine”, it already has something to celebrate. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing has finalized two research grants worth a total of almost $900,000. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that they are going to be using the money to conduct research aimed at improving patient health as well as nursing standards. Once such project already underway sends nurses to rural area that are medically under served to coach diabetics on the importance of keeping in good health.

The two grants come from the National institutes of health and the Robert Wood Johnson Organization. Heather Young is from the National institues of health; “It’s important for people with diabetes to eat the right foods and exercise, yet it’s difficult to change old habits,” Young said in a press release. ”Nurses can work with patients to improve their daily habits and avoid serious health issues.”

One of the unique aspects of this research is it allows the nursing school to study the impact of nursing student have an impact on the community’s health in the pre-hospital setting. The nursing school feels that this research supports the overall mission of the school by advancing health and quality of care.

UDC’s Nursing school will hold its first class in September 2010. For more information on choosing a nursing school visit our online nursing schools directory.

If you’re going to spend a considerable amount of money on nursing school you’re more than likely very curious about the quality of different schools or nursing programs. After all, you want to make sure you’ll be spending your tuition dollars on a quality program. And, while there are many Web sites that “rank” colleges and universities, including nursing schools, the two to which you’ll probably want to pay the most attention are the rankings detailed by U.S. News & World Report and the National Institutes of Health. But even these well-regarded ranking entities have some controversy about them. U.S. News, for example, offers potential students searching for college, graduate and professional schools the well known America’s Best Colleges report. And it also offers a ranking list for nursing programs called Best Nursing Graduate Schools. The magazine compiles these rankings based on peer review as well as how students do on standardized tests, tuition fees, how many alumni donate to their alma mater, and so on. Yet you should be a bit wary of the peer review factor mentioned above.

The main weakness regarding peer review is the fact that it’s human nature to praise one’s friends and downplay those for whom one has less-than-warm feelings. Hence faculty may rate Nursing School Rankings: Which Ones Can You Believe? If you’re going to spend a considerable amount of money on nursing school (the average cost for a bachelor of science degree in nu) you’re more than likely very curious about the quality of different schools or nursing programs. After all, you want to make sure you’ll be spending your tuition dollars on a quality program. And, while there are many Web sites that “rank” colleges and universities, including nursing schools, the two to which you’ll probably want to pay the most attention are the rankings detailed by U.S. News & World Report and the National Institutes of Health. But even these well-regarded ranking entities have some controversy about them. U.S. News, for example, offers potential students searching for college, graduate and professional schools the well known America’s Best Colleges report. And it also offers a ranking list for nursing programs called Best Nursing Graduate Schools. The magazine compiles these rankings based on peer review as well as how students do on standardized tests, tuition fees, how many alumni donate to their alma mater, and so on. Yet you should be a bit wary of the peer review factor mentioned above. The main weakness regarding peer review is the fact that it’s human nature to praise one’s friends and downplay those for whom one has less-than-warm feelings. Hence faculty may rate the programs where their friends teach higher than programs they don’t know. For a nice compendium on the rankings “controversy” check out this overview from the University of Illinois.The article has several links to articles both pro and con regarding U.S. News-type of rankings.

A better bet regarding nursing school rankings may be the rankings from the National Institutes of Health. The NIH provides funding to hospitals and schools and each year publishes its own nursing school rankings, which do reflect the schools that received the most NIH-funding. The NIH gives its funds based upon an un-biased peer-review process. the programs where their friends teach higher than programs they don’t know. For a nice compendium on the rankings “controversy” check out this overview from the University of Illinois.The article has several links to articles both pro and con regarding U.S. News-type of rankings. A better bet regarding nursing school rankings may be the rankings from the National Institutes of Health. The NIH provides funding to hospitals and schools and each year publishes its own nursing school rankings, which do reflect the schools that received the most NIH-funding. The NIH gives its funds based upon an un-biased peer-review process.

If you’ve decided to pursue a nursing career — and if so, good for you! — you’ll have plenty of nursing programs from which to choose. You’ll be attending your nursing training for 2-4 years, depending on what type of nursing school you choose. If you’re eager to get

nursing schools and programs

on the hospital floor quickly, a two- to three-year associate of science in nursing (ASN) degree will be right for you, as will attendance at one of the many nursing programs hospitals offer.

You also may earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. These take four years, but you’ll need a bachelor’s degree if you want to pursue a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing, or if you ever wish to go for certification as a nurse practitioner.

You’ll also need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, also known as the NCLEX-RN, in your state. You’ll then receive the RN designation.

Perhaps the most critical thing you should look for in a nursing school is to make sure it’s accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The NLNAC accredits all level of nursing programs (ASN, hospital diploma, BSN, MSN, etc.). If you’re looking for nursing programs at just the bachelor‘s or master‘s level, check to see if the nursing school is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Why is it important to attend an accredited nursing school? Nursing programs must pass a stringent set of requirements by accrediting bodies. Attending an accredited school means your education has been deemed by educational nursing leaders that  your nursing school will give you a satisfactory education, one which will prepare you to sit and pass the NCLEX-RN.

Attending an accredited nursing school also means you’ll be able to apply for funds and financial aid programs available from the federal government and your state. A career as nurse can be very lucrative — salaries tend to run from $45,000 to $60,000 and up — but your education will not be inexpensive. Being eligible for these federal loan and grant programs is another important reason for you to make sure the nursing school of your choice is accredited.

Is There REALLY a Nursing Shortage?

Anecdotal evidence is saying that, for some nurses looking for work during this recession, job opportunities are slim indeed. How can that be, you may be asking? After all, all we’ve been hearing about for years is the critical shortage of nurses, a shortage that will only get worse as the United States’ population ages.But Health Affairs: A Policy Journal of the Health Field, stated in its June issue online that “[r]registered nurse (RN emloyement has increased during the current recession, and we may soon see an end to the decade-long nurse shortage.” However, the authors, contend, “large shortages are still expected in the next decade. Until nursing education capacity is increased, future imbalances in the nurse labor market will be unavoidable.” Sounds like good news for those who wish to go to nursing school, doesn’t it. But, and this is a large but, interest in nursing careers is so, nursing schools can’t keep up with the demand. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “U.S. nursing schools turned away 49,948 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2008 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints. Almost two-thirds of the nursing schools responding to the survey pointed to faculty shortages as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into entry-level baccalaureate programs.” So interest is there, but there aren’t enough faculty or facilities to a) train the people who are interested in going to nursing schools which would b) alleviate the coming critical need for nurses. The United States Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage in 2010 of more than 213,000 nurses. So, yes, the recession probably is cutting down on the number of nursing positions open now. Nurses are delaying retirement; hospitals may not be filling vacant positions, etc. But the shortage? It is a comin’!