Why is it so hard?

Bill E. Rubin · Jul 8, 2008

That's exactly the reason. As much of a nursing shortage as there is, the nursing educator shortage is vastly more acute.

RhodyGirl, RN · Jul 8, 2008

There is no real nursing shortage per se.....it's more a shortage of RN's who are willing to work under poor conditions. (IMO)

Getting into NS should be difficult. You will be responsible for people's lives.

There are waiting lists and lots of competition all over the country, not just the 2 states you have mentioned.

Keep your grades high, and if becoming a nurse is something you truly want.....it will happen.

Coastie_wife · Jul 8, 2008

That is definitely it. It was just on our news here in TN a few days ago, that we are turning away hundreds of qualified applicants to nursing school because of the lack of instructors to teach them.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2008

Not just lack of instructors, but lack of clinical sites. Stay focused and keep your grades high.

mpccrn, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2008

if lack of instructors is the problem, is it REALLY necessary to have a degree to teach??? bedside experience is a far better teacher than any book can convey! just a thought. :smokin:

Trauma Columnist · Jul 9, 2008

I too thought that my 14 years of bedside experience should prepare me to teach. However, I was wrong. Yes, I know the material, but no I don't know how to teach. I really knew what I was missing after I finished my MSN - now I know that bedside experience really isn't enough because without knowing how to impart knowledge, you can't teach.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2008

exactly...not everyone can teach effectively. You have to be able to incorporate a lot of different styles to teach a whole group, and be able to be firm/consistant/professional.

I look forward to the day when I become a nursing educator. Until then, keep trying and know that if you have the will, there will be a way!

Price 2002 · Jul 9, 2008

i am currently in school 84 days to graduation and counting. i thought it was too easy to get in and i see so many people that i am in school that i would not want to take care of me or any of my loved ones. i think that it needs to be hard to get. the hardest thing i have seen for my school is finding enough instructors and enough clinical sites. i feel like i am lacking some clinical experinces because they were not available to my school. in my area there are long waiting lists for schools to get students in to hospitals. that may be everywhere but i can only speak for my area.

coolpeach · Jul 9, 2008

I live in Texas (Dallas area), and its the same way here. I finally got in, but I was one of 40 who made it out of about 300 applicants.

In order to teach nursing you have to be a nurse. It seems that after all the hard work, and graduation most people want to work as a nurse, and not a nurse instructor.......hence the problem.

My CC keeps trying to open a sister program on another campus, but can't seem to get enough instructors to make it happen.

goodgalpal · Jul 9, 2008

My prof in school (he is an MD) said that there are a variety of reasons for the shortage, most you have mentioned. Shortage in "bad" areas since not many people want to work there, not enough educators, the older nurses are retiring and the general public of seniors is rising (baby boomers) so they need more people to care for them (think LTC), and he also said that nurses want it to stay competitive so that they continue to receive a decent wage. If they're less in demand then the pay would decrease.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2008

Why with the nursing shortage does it seem to be so hard to get into the Nursing program?

The 'nursing shortage' is a myth. . .

There's no true nursing shortage, because 500,000 actively licensed nurses in the US are doing things other than working in the profession. There's only a shortage of nurses who would willingly work at the bedside to get abused from all angles, disrespected by many people, and poorly paid by employers.