[brian]

GREELEY - Colorado faces a severe nursing shortage because there aren't enough nursing instructors, and that's because nurses take a huge pay cut to become instructors, according to testimony during a hearing here Wednesday.


U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., and U.S. Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., conducted the congressional field hearing in an effort to find out how much of the national nursing shortage can be attributed to a shortage of faculty.
"We have a huge hurdle," Kay Norton, president of the University of Northern Colorado, told the members of Congress at the UNC University Center.
A couple of UNC nursing professors have retired early, she said, and more will probably follow because "they can make $20,000 to $30,000 more" in clinical practice.

Full Story: Nurse shortage blamed in part on lack of profs [Rocky Mountain News,CO]

[Judee Smudee]

It seems to me that blaming the nursing shortage on lack of faculty is focusing on only one aspect of the problem. At the other end is the large number of nurses that will not practice at the bedside due to bad conditions. I include myself in that because I took an early retirement from bedside nursing for just that reason.

[Donnetterr]

I agree with Judee. I am a nursing student and quick study. I have concluded from my clinical experiences that bedside nursing is not for me, not with high patient to nurse ratios and some other things I have seen as I learn. Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to start a nursing career and avoid the bedside. I am considering an ICU environment b/c I know the patient ratios are more manageable. I don't mind giving complex care, I just don't think it's safe to expect a nurse to care for too many patients at once.

[traumaRUs]

Most of my RN experience is in a busy ER, so I know that sometimes the care is strained (and that's being polite). However, I have a masters degree in nursing and could not afford to take such a pay cut at 47.

[SFCardiacRN]

Look at all the threads about how long it is taking students to get into school. There are lotteries and waiting lists etc. My instructors make less than entry level RN wages and they all have MSN's! My school gets 5 applications for every slot available. There really are not enough RN schools, at least in CA.