Are nursing schools saturated, less applying?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Is it just me...or have you also noticed a significant drop in the number of applicants applying for these nursing schools, especially at the BSN levels...but including ADN's and LPN's?!

I ask this question because, I remember years ago on this very site, pre-nursing applicants would attend information meetings, and come back and post some astronomical numbers of applicants who had filed. Along with that, they would post some ridiculous numbers of years you had to sit on a wait-list pool of applicants. Numbers would be like, 600 to 1,580 potential applicants, but taking only 55-100, somewhere in that neighborhood...with a waiting list of 3-5 years away. Now you hear 200-300 applicants applied, maybe 58 taking... and sometimes no wait-list at all...maybe a roll over to the next application year's date!

However, recently you hear someone on this site (threads) being so sad on their school's threads, because they were put on a wait-list...and approximately three weeks later they are back on this site...yelling, Wow Yep Yay...I got in, they accepted me off the wait- list. Is applicants just getting smarter, and just applying at as many schools as possible...thereby decreasing that wait-list...and decreasing the numbers?

Do you think the demand is decreasing, so much so, because there has been so many nurses that have graduated within the period of 2002-2011, that the market has been so over saturated, and not been able to accommodate that much of an increase in numbers of applicants in our field?

Do you think the school are purposely attempting to make the requirements so competitive that it makes it easier to persuade the applicants to go elsewhere, thereby, discouraging and decreasing the numbers of applicants to apply. If this is so...I agree...we want the best of the best working on us...that is, if that is the schools true and actual reasoning. And...I would love that title of being 'A Great Nurse'.

I say this only because so many nurse instructors and educators on these threads, have indicated quite clearly, that most(some often) 4.0 GPA's nurses have great memory skills, but can not implement them to critical thinking modes. Which don't necessarily make them the best nurses. I guess they would know..they are the ones who are the educators who oversee their training.

What do you think is happening to the nursing field applicants numbers...or is it just the bottom line...Money, and the increase COST to attend nursing schools?

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I believe the decrease in size of applicant pools is due to people being shied away from an over-saturated, overly-competitive field. The nursing schools I've applied to have seen a drop in number of applications: 1200 down to 800, 500 down to 300, 200 down to 150. But not only are nursing programs competitive, nursing jobs are very competitive as well because there isn't really a nursing shortage. Although the country needs more nurses, hospitals won't barge in increasing the number of staff nurses.

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Specializes in ICU.

I know at my school many applicants apply to 6 or 7 campuses. Then if they get into the one they want, they decline all of the others. This makes it seem like there are more applicants than there actually are. Also many will apply to both the RN and LPN programs thinking if they don't get into the RN, they can go the LPN route. So that inflates the numbers also. I think there are a lot of factors that go into it. Plus many people who apply have no idea what they are getting into.

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I believe the decrease in size of applicant pools is due to people being shied away from an over-saturated, overly-competitive field. The nursing schools I've applied to have seen a drop in number of applications: 1200 down to 800, 500 down to 300, 200 down to 150. But not only are nursing programs competitive, nursing jobs are very competitive as well because there isn't really a nursing shortage. Although the country needs more nurses, hospitals won't barge in increasing the number of staff nurses.

Hi meib92, I agree with you 100%, that ..."there really isn't a nursing shortage"! But what do you mean when you say that the people are being shielded away from an over-saturated, overly-competitive field? How are they being shielded in your State? And...more importantly, why do you think the future nursing students aren't being told this information, that there is no shortage...and that their choice for nursing school could effect their whole lives and future career choices??

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. I think there are a lot of factors that go into it. Plus many people who apply have no idea what they are getting into.

Hi Heathermaizey, you have a great perspective on this topic and you make valet points.

Do you think the schools have an obligation to inform that potential nursing student what the future looks like during their information meetings, or however they are titled in your State? OR Is it the responsibility of that students to do 'due diligence' in his/her search for their nursing future?

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Sorry, I am sending this out a second time, because of my mis-spelled word.

Hi Heathermaizey, you have a great perspective on this topic and you make valet points.

Do you think the schools have an obligation to inform those potential nursing students on what the future looks like during their information meetings, or however your meetings are titled in your State? OR Is it the responsibility of that students to do 'due diligence' in his/her search for their nursing future?

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

The responsibility is with the student regardless of what field/degree they are majoring in. In an age with google, multiple forums, easily accessible newspaper and magazine articles, the excuse "I didn't know" is invalid. (Microfishe...anyone remember that?)

It is the student's responsibility.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

And if you don't know what microfishe is...google it. See, no excuse for a lack of knowledge.

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The responsibility is with the student regardless of what field/degree they are majoring in. In an age with google, multiple forums, easily accessible newspaper and magazine articles, the excuse "I didn't know" is invalid. (Microfishe...anyone remember that?)

It is the student's responsibility.

Wow missmollie, you sound like you have been around the blocks a few times...Thanks for that great and informative post message!

I hope this do not date me...but I know exactly where you are coming from...when you suggested the...Microfishe. And you are absolutely right, with all this technology at the finger tips...one should be informed....no excuses.

However, does that excuse the responsibility on the nursing schools...who have the true stats on the nursing acceptance rates; passing rates; hiring rates; to withhold that information from potential nursing students...just because they also feel a student should know these facts before entering...and after taking all of those time consuming pre-reqs...that could have been directed towards another career.?

What is your view with nursing schools notification? As you have implied correctly to us by understanding and Remembering...ignorant of the law is no excuse!!!!!

Is it maybe...the numbers?

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Hi meib92 I agree with you 100%, that ..."there really isn't a nursing shortage"! But what do you mean when you say that the people are being shielded away from an over-saturated, overly-competitive field? How are they being shielded in your State? And...more importantly, why do you think the future nursing students aren't being told this information, that there is no shortage...and that their choice for nursing school could effect their whole lives and future career choices??[/quote']

Not shielded, but shied away, or rather intimidated to go into a major and career that is over-saturated and extremely competitive. Nursing is a very demanding job that requires a certain love for compassion and caring. But for a lot of people, they want to go into nursing merely for the pay or the job security -- but when they find out the pay or job opportunities isn't as glorious and bountiful as they heard it was...maybe they've changed their mind?

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Sorry, I am sending this out a second time, because of my mis-spelled word.

Hi Heathermaizey, you have a great perspective on this topic and you make valet points.

Do you think the schools have an obligation to inform those potential nursing students on what the future looks like during their information meetings, or however your meetings are titled in your State? OR Is it the responsibility of that students to do 'due diligence' in his/her search for their nursing future?

The word is still misspelled ;) (assuming you were talking about valid being misspelled....?)

At any rate, it is not up to any school to give a lecture or hand out information about what the job market may be like for anyone registering for classes. Why should they? They are there to provide education....what any one student does with that education is up to them. I'm sure you wouldn't expect schools to explain to prospective students how competitive it might be for them to find work as advertising copywriters....graphic designers.....actors? Yet schools offer these programs, too.

And honestly, anyone who goes through the effort required to get into a nursing school today has no excuse to NOT know what he or she is up against....how does one choose a future occupation and be clueless about the prospects? Yet, it comes up time and again.

Oh, hey, in case there are any theater majors out there....I hear it's kinda tough to become a rich movie star in Hollywood ;)

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I think depending on what part of the country you live in would depend on if there is a nursing shortage or not. I think last time I looked each hospital where I'm from had over 50 RN position open…..We have close to 10 hospitals in the city

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