Nursing program produces RNs fast
Becky Kuschel
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: News
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This December, the first graduates of SCSU's accelerated nursing program will attempt to mend the shortage of registered nurses (RNs) across the nation.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Web site, the estimated shortage of RNs in the United States will reach 340,000 by the year 2020. The difficulty of nursing colleges and universities to increase enrollment is listed as a contributing factor.
In a recent report by the AACN, 42,866 qualified applicants were rejected in 2006 from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs because of not having enough "faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors and budget constraints." Seventy-one percent of the nursing schools that responded to the survey indicated that limited space in their nursing department was because of lack of faculty.
"All schools nationally are very concerned with the shortage of nurses," said Mary Hoenig, associated professor of nursing science.
Hoenig lists "growing need in acute care and any types of home and long-term care, the exploding number of aging people, 'graying' of the nursing workforce, not enough graduates coming from nursing programs and a serious shortage of qualified nursing faculty" as contributors to the increasing problem.
According to The National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the number of RNs increased by only 7.9 percent from 2000 to 2004.
SCSU's traditional nursing program admits approximately 40 new students every January. From 2004 to 2005, the nursing department received 450 applications, with only 120 accepted.
"This year we have increased the number of students admitted to the traditional program," Hoenig said.
In an effort to help decrease the shortage, SCSU began an accelerated nursing program in September 2006. It is a 16-month course designed for students who already have a degree in another field.
The program blends
classroom instruction, online courses, simulated learning laboratory and clinical practice.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Web site, the estimated shortage of RNs in the United States will reach 340,000 by the year 2020. The difficulty of nursing colleges and universities to increase enrollment is listed as a contributing factor.
In a recent report by the AACN, 42,866 qualified applicants were rejected in 2006 from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs because of not having enough "faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors and budget constraints." Seventy-one percent of the nursing schools that responded to the survey indicated that limited space in their nursing department was because of lack of faculty.
"All schools nationally are very concerned with the shortage of nurses," said Mary Hoenig, associated professor of nursing science.
Hoenig lists "growing need in acute care and any types of home and long-term care, the exploding number of aging people, 'graying' of the nursing workforce, not enough graduates coming from nursing programs and a serious shortage of qualified nursing faculty" as contributors to the increasing problem.
According to The National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the number of RNs increased by only 7.9 percent from 2000 to 2004.
SCSU's traditional nursing program admits approximately 40 new students every January. From 2004 to 2005, the nursing department received 450 applications, with only 120 accepted.
"This year we have increased the number of students admitted to the traditional program," Hoenig said.
In an effort to help decrease the shortage, SCSU began an accelerated nursing program in September 2006. It is a 16-month course designed for students who already have a degree in another field.
The program blends
classroom instruction, online courses, simulated learning laboratory and clinical practice.