Nursing program produces RNs fast

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.

"Accelerated programs were developed about 35 years ago nationally to bring more qualified nurses into practice," said Hoenig. "The two programs meet the same objectives. They offer the same course, and achieve the same degree. They are taught by the same faculty. The difference is that the accelerated program moves faster by covering the same material and hours in a compacted fashion. The 16-month course of study goes through all summer sessions, pretty much nonstop."

The 16 soon-to-be-graduates of the new accelerated program are currently interviewing for jobs and preparing to take the MN Board of Nursing exam to become RNs. The second wave of students will start September 2008 and graduate December 2009. The application deadline is February 1, 2008.

In order to qualify for the accelerated program, applicants must already have a bachelor's degree in any field with a GPA of 3.0 or more. In addition, seven prerequisite courses must be completed or currently enrolled in at time of application.

For more information, contact the Student Services Coordinator in the Department of Nursing Science at 320-308-4064.