Will the shortage affect admissions???

mavnurse · Oct 11, 2004

My school is still very competitive (approx. 700 applicants and 100 seats/semester) simply because we don't have enough faculty to handle larger numbers. It wouldn't hurt to call the schools you're interested in (calling is more anonymous than email) and ask how many applicants and how many spots there are on average. That's how I got my info! :)

mavnurse · Oct 11, 2004

My school is still very competitive (approx. 700 applicants and 100 seats/semester) simply because we don't have enough faculty to handle larger numbers. It wouldn't hurt to call the schools you're interested in (calling is more anonymous than email) and ask how many applicants and how many spots there are on average. That's how I got my info! :)

RedSox33RN · Oct 11, 2004

Hi everyone.... I know this is a weird question, but I was discussing this with a few friends and none of us are sure if our conclusions are correct:
We all know that there is a shortage of nurses, and as far as I've heard, there certainly aren't as many students applying to nursing schools as there used to be. Will this shortage mean an easier time getting accepted into programs? Almost every schools website states that meeting the minimal requirements doesn't guarantee addmission because most applicants' credentials are well above the minimums... but if there really is a shortage, just how competitive do you really have to be to get accepted?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!

We have found here in NH (at least) the exact opposite to be true. First, the shortage of nurses also applies to a shortage of nursing instructors. No instructors, no classes. Instructors also must have a Master's degree, and not as many nursing students are obtaining a Master's, and if they do, it's not to necessarily teach (certainly not where the $$ are). I'm a non-traditional student at the age of 37 w/4 kids, and I'm going the quickest route first (ADN), then will obtain my BSN after I start working. But for now, getting INTO the work force is a priority.

Secondly, there are a TON of applicants in the programs up here, especially the CC's and tech school's. Spaces are few and far between, because of the shortage of instructors, so the school's can't take as many students. So, they get picky - VERY selective with who gets in. I have a 3.8 GPA, finished all but 2 non-nursing classes, applied to 4 schools, and got into only 2. My GPA wasn't HIGH enough for one of them! That's how tight the process is.

The schools must be selective. They want to make sure the students who start, are the ones that will stay and graduate. This is actually applicable to all of the Allied Health programs - from Radiology to Paramedic to Dental Health. They are all very selective now. I know of several schools - mostly the CC's and tech's - that are not even advertising their nursing programs any longer. They have way too many applicants for the spots available. I know it's even hard for the traditional student right out of HS to get into an AD program. The private college I go to has both AD and BSN programs, with a lot of the younger students in the BSN program. Many were denied admission to the AD programs in tech schools, most believing because they have yet to "prove" themselves as college students, and the school's don't want to give away a spot to someone that may decide after 6 weeks that nursing is not for them. Too late to let someone in at that point.

I'm interested that it is not this way across the US - I thought it was. Some of the 2 year programs at tech school's have 2 year long wait lists. They are desperately trying to recruit instructors, and some are building new facilities to accomodate such a huge surge in Allied Health admissions.

RedSox33RN · Oct 11, 2004

Hi everyone.... I know this is a weird question, but I was discussing this with a few friends and none of us are sure if our conclusions are correct:
We all know that there is a shortage of nurses, and as far as I've heard, there certainly aren't as many students applying to nursing schools as there used to be. Will this shortage mean an easier time getting accepted into programs? Almost every schools website states that meeting the minimal requirements doesn't guarantee addmission because most applicants' credentials are well above the minimums... but if there really is a shortage, just how competitive do you really have to be to get accepted?
Any input would be greatly appreciated!

We have found here in NH (at least) the exact opposite to be true. First, the shortage of nurses also applies to a shortage of nursing instructors. No instructors, no classes. Instructors also must have a Master's degree, and not as many nursing students are obtaining a Master's, and if they do, it's not to necessarily teach (certainly not where the $$ are). I'm a non-traditional student at the age of 37 w/4 kids, and I'm going the quickest route first (ADN), then will obtain my BSN after I start working. But for now, getting INTO the work force is a priority.

Secondly, there are a TON of applicants in the programs up here, especially the CC's and tech school's. Spaces are few and far between, because of the shortage of instructors, so the school's can't take as many students. So, they get picky - VERY selective with who gets in. I have a 3.8 GPA, finished all but 2 non-nursing classes, applied to 4 schools, and got into only 2. My GPA wasn't HIGH enough for one of them! That's how tight the process is.

The schools must be selective. They want to make sure the students who start, are the ones that will stay and graduate. This is actually applicable to all of the Allied Health programs - from Radiology to Paramedic to Dental Health. They are all very selective now. I know of several schools - mostly the CC's and tech's - that are not even advertising their nursing programs any longer. They have way too many applicants for the spots available. I know it's even hard for the traditional student right out of HS to get into an AD program. The private college I go to has both AD and BSN programs, with a lot of the younger students in the BSN program. Many were denied admission to the AD programs in tech schools, most believing because they have yet to "prove" themselves as college students, and the school's don't want to give away a spot to someone that may decide after 6 weeks that nursing is not for them. Too late to let someone in at that point.

I'm interested that it is not this way across the US - I thought it was. Some of the 2 year programs at tech school's have 2 year long wait lists. They are desperately trying to recruit instructors, and some are building new facilities to accomodate such a huge surge in Allied Health admissions.

DenaInWyo · Oct 11, 2004

My CC admits students to the program based on a "score sheet". The minimum GPA to apply is 2.3 (!). You earn a certain number of points for higher GPAs, whether you graduated highschool or got a GED, and what grades you earned in *core classes* (e.g. an A in A&P = 3 points) ..not the classes you took before you knew your major, or before you changed your mind, like I did. They add up the points, then take the top 64 scores. Sounds fair to me! Yep, there are probably plenty of people with an overall higher GPA than me, but those A's might have been in primarily unrelated classes. I got my A's in the classes that count.

Edited to add: Even with my past history of not so stellar college performance, I am carrying a 94% for midterm in my fundamentals lab/lecture class. Guess that means I'm where I'm supposed to be :)

DenaInWyo · Oct 11, 2004

My CC admits students to the program based on a "score sheet". The minimum GPA to apply is 2.3 (!). You earn a certain number of points for higher GPAs, whether you graduated highschool or got a GED, and what grades you earned in *core classes* (e.g. an A in A&P = 3 points) ..not the classes you took before you knew your major, or before you changed your mind, like I did. They add up the points, then take the top 64 scores. Sounds fair to me! Yep, there are probably plenty of people with an overall higher GPA than me, but those A's might have been in primarily unrelated classes. I got my A's in the classes that count.

Edited to add: Even with my past history of not so stellar college performance, I am carrying a 94% for midterm in my fundamentals lab/lecture class. Guess that means I'm where I'm supposed to be :)

futurenursingstudent · Oct 11, 2004

those (such as myself) applying straight out of high school are sort of in a crunch because it would take me 2yrs (general ed,prereqs) before even getting to apply to the 2 yr AS program at the CC,my college GPA would have to be A-B range.i don't think a first-time in college student could take all that on..i would not want to screw up my chances of ever getting into a program or spend 5 years trying to get into a 2yr program because my GPA wasn't high enough,it just wouldn't be worth it.the LPN program here is less competitive,theres no pre reqs,all you gotta have is a HS diploma or GED ,so i've decided to go that route.my ultimate goal is to have a BSN,but right now 4 year programs are costly and overly competitive.i dont think GPA is the only thing that matters, i've worked my butt off (especially in math) for the GPA in high school i have right now.

-angela-

futurenursingstudent · Oct 11, 2004

those (such as myself) applying straight out of high school are sort of in a crunch because it would take me 2yrs (general ed,prereqs) before even getting to apply to the 2 yr AS program at the CC,my college GPA would have to be A-B range.i don't think a first-time in college student could take all that on..i would not want to screw up my chances of ever getting into a program or spend 5 years trying to get into a 2yr program because my GPA wasn't high enough,it just wouldn't be worth it.the LPN program here is less competitive,theres no pre reqs,all you gotta have is a HS diploma or GED ,so i've decided to go that route.my ultimate goal is to have a BSN,but right now 4 year programs are costly and overly competitive.i dont think GPA is the only thing that matters, i've worked my butt off (especially in math) for the GPA in high school i have right now.

-angela-

cherokeesummer · Oct 11, 2004

I don't know how competitive our school was...I didn't have any problems getting in but mine is a diploma program and I don't think they are as in demand as the ADN's. The local ADN is fairly competitive from what I understand.

My grades and prereqs were good so that could be why i didn't realize the intense competitiveness but i have heard stories about the adn and bsn programs!

I already have a AA and a BA degree so I will hopefully bridge later to get the BSN and MSN. :):)

Good luck everyone!!!!

cherokeesummer · Oct 11, 2004

I don't know how competitive our school was...I didn't have any problems getting in but mine is a diploma program and I don't think they are as in demand as the ADN's. The local ADN is fairly competitive from what I understand.

My grades and prereqs were good so that could be why i didn't realize the intense competitiveness but i have heard stories about the adn and bsn programs!

I already have a AA and a BA degree so I will hopefully bridge later to get the BSN and MSN. :):)

Good luck everyone!!!!

okie2 · Oct 11, 2004

Here in OK all programs are competitive. Most only accept 30% of applicants.

The community colleges go by a point system, you recieve points for classes completed, entrance exam scores, work experience, etc. The bsn programs use a traditional method of grades, courses, interviews.

Although, two major universities here have received grants to create BS -to- BSN programs. They are 14-18 month long and also offer scholarships to students who agree to stay & work in OKC area. Both these programs are small, but hope to have 50 spaces available in the next few years. Overall, i agree with the shortage extending to instructors too. I know that one university here decreased it's bsn class for 2004 nearly in half due to limited instructors.

okie2 · Oct 11, 2004

Here in OK all programs are competitive. Most only accept 30% of applicants.

The community colleges go by a point system, you recieve points for classes completed, entrance exam scores, work experience, etc. The bsn programs use a traditional method of grades, courses, interviews.

Although, two major universities here have received grants to create BS -to- BSN programs. They are 14-18 month long and also offer scholarships to students who agree to stay & work in OKC area. Both these programs are small, but hope to have 50 spaces available in the next few years. Overall, i agree with the shortage extending to instructors too. I know that one university here decreased it's bsn class for 2004 nearly in half due to limited instructors.