I was at a Magnet meeting today, and one of the participants questioned why there is a nursing shortage. One of our nursing administrators stated that there are less instructors because the salaries are not competitive (a basically known fact), and also, that there are statistics proving that there are less students applying for nursing programs. I am asking those that may have these statistics if this is true.
I know that I am speaking from a limited point of view; I can only speak for the schools within my area (especially community colleges); but I am hearing stories (and have witnessed) of RN programs having limited seats with over 300 applicants. Many are on waiting lists from anywhere from 2 years or more anticipating a seat. I am not seeing this. I have no statistics before me, but am having a hard time believing this, but again, this is from my own small circle of the world.
Does anyone have these stats, or have heard of them in their respective programs? I am looking for enlightenment. I am aware that there may have been a decrease of applicants in the beginning of the AIDS scare, but not currently.
You shouldn't be made to feel like you're bashing someone. You're allowed your opinion and you statements of what goes on where you live.
Until we walk a mile in another's shoes, or become a fly one the wall, we really can't say what they do. But the hours are nice. I had one instructor mention that in an article in the paper. She loved the students, but the hours are nice "no weekends, holidays off (a very long Xmas break), reduced summer hours for some.
Most nursing instructors are not fresh from school. They have years of experience in nursing behind them and many have to take a cut in pay to teach. I would quit my job today and teach full time but for the over 10,000 pay cut. I just got divorced and need my current salary to make ends meet. So if I do teach I'll keep my job and teach part time. (Still have to get my Masters though). So while a blanket statement that nurses in other jobs ALWAYS make more than instructors isn't true, it is more often the case because these nurses are not new grads but making good money because of years of experience. (Obviously not in your area. But I wonder what nurses with 10 or 15 years experience in one facility make where you live, and how does that compare with the instructors at your school?)
I appreciate the kind words..that is all I am trying to say. My particular geographical area is economically depressed...there is a high-instance of people on public assistance, SSI, high drop-out rate from high school...so the state has been sending alot of money in recent years to this area in an effort to help others not repeat the cycle.
One of my plans in my career, is to be able to teach at a university level at least on a part-time basis. From my own family, I have witnessed that the medical profession is very, very hard on the body, and I would like to have the credentials in place to be able to make a career switch as opposed to not working at all, should something happen that I can no longer stay on my feet for 10-12 hours per day. Of course, that wouldn't be a clinical role...but I really couldn't imagine not working at all...even if I was lucky enough to win Powerball ! :)
I wondering if anyone can post the job listings for the open and unfilled nursing faculty positions in your area. It seems that information would be the best way to settle the debate over whether there is a great, unfilled, need for nursing instructors, or not. I will look in my area and post what I find.
(Not that I don't feel there is a "need" for instructors. I'm just curious if any schools are actually trying to hire them.)
I appreciate the kind words..that is all I am trying to say. My particular geographical area is economically depressed...there is a high-instance of people on public assistance, SSI, high drop-out rate from high school...so the state has been sending alot of money in recent years to this area in an effort to help others not repeat the cycle.
One of my plans in my career, is to be able to teach at a university level at least on a part-time basis. From my own family, I have witnessed that the medical profession is very, very hard on the body, and I would like to have the credentials in place to be able to make a career switch as opposed to not working at all, should something happen that I can no longer stay on my feet for 10-12 hours per day. Of course, that wouldn't be a clinical role...but I really couldn't imagine not working at all...even if I was lucky enough to win Powerball ! :)
Good luck to you. That is precisely why I finished up my BSN this year, so that when I'm old and tired of working these long hard hours and killing my body there will be something for me to do.
I wondering if anyone can post the job listings for the open and unfilled nursing faculty positions in your area. It seems that information would be the best way to settle the debate over whether there is a great, unfilled, need for nursing instructors, or not. I will look in my area and post what I find.
(Not that I don't feel there is a "need" for instructors. I'm just curious if any schools are actually trying to hire them.)
Where are you looking? I'm having trouble. Monstor.com has a few listings. But I know for a fact the local school here is hiring, because they sent me a recruitment letter asking me to teach a clinical group when I got my BSN.
here are two positions i found in my area. i only searched the university and communtiy college systems. i didn't look at the "trade" schools (for lack of a better word.)
faculty clinical nursing district wide grade: 001 salary range: $ 38,549.00 - $ 63,488.00 location: district support services cntr department: district wide hours: varied work calendar: 9 months
I bet qualified MSNs are just beating down the doors for this job (or maybe not, since it was obviously posted prior to 12/06).
Title: NURSING FACULTY
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
Qualifications:
Duties: Classroom and clinical student instruction and evaluation; student recruitment and academic advisement; curriculum planning and development; and achievement of departmental and college goals.
Qualifications: MSN from a regionally accredited institution (or planned completing MSN by 12/06); three years of recent clinical nursing experience in adult health, pediatrics, or psych/mental health.
Specializes in gyn/ plastic surgery/ gen pract. mabey?.
I am one of the lucky few that was accepted into my local community college's nursing program.
I have heard the issue of "too few teachers and too little salary" as well. I have even heard horror stories of poor working conditions that cause even the most experienced nurses to throw it all away. But I havent heard of the number of applications going down? I personaly have watched the numbers go up!- There is sooo much intrest to become a nurse.. but it is just soo hard to get in.
I think that maybey lots of the possible applicants see a list of requirements and feel it is impossible to live up to the "near perfect" standard that is understandably required by nusring programs. I also think alot of students heard of "waitlists" and feel that they dont have a chance, and end up choosing something else. I was almost one of these people!
I think a good wayto keep the applications rolling in is to quit keeping information about nusring programs soo "guarded and secretive." I mean even getting an application mailed to my house was smidge of a process--
Lets get ourselves and our nursing school's name out there! Let's leave applications and information in easily accessible places, like online, or with an advisor, or in the school's medical services office!!!
Career/college fairs and school visits would be good places to go to in effort to make sure we have plenty of applicants with DESIRE to be in the nusring or the field.
I stumbled upon becoming a nurse after trying almost every other major under the sun!... I wish someone would have shown me the way sooner!
I am in MA and I can tell you there is a shortage of nursing faculty, combined with schools struggling to have sites agreeing to have clinical rotations, that has exacerbated the nursing situation. Some schools, like my program, have managed to get waivers to have ASN nurses do clinical instead of MSN instructors. A good friend is an instructor at a well known school here and she is constantly worried about how class sizes have increased and "getting to the students". Large class size often mean larger clinical groups, although there is a limit to clinical group size a full group is stressful for an instructor.
Of course I have issues with "shortage" in MA with respect to jobs because all my friends and I are struggling to find jobs. Some facilities are downright rude and unprofessional with our inquiries, or simply dont do us the courtesy of acknowledging our applications. I didnt realize until after I graduated how saturated my area was with RNs. The MA Board of Nursing (BORN) gives stats on # of nurses out there. Where are the jobs in MA?
I cant find the one article I had that said 34,000 students were turned away nationally because of faculty shortage. I hope these articles, local and national nursing organizations, are helpful.
Do we really want to many nsg school just cranking them out right and left.
I like the job market the way it is
I would have to agree. There are plenty of nurses out there already, but many of them have left the bedside do to unacceptable working conditions (I am counting the days until I am one of them). If hospitals ALREADY feel no need to put forth effort to retain nurses, it would only worsen with a nursing surplus.
justme1972
2,441 Posts
I appreciate the kind words..that is all I am trying to say. My particular geographical area is economically depressed...there is a high-instance of people on public assistance, SSI, high drop-out rate from high school...so the state has been sending alot of money in recent years to this area in an effort to help others not repeat the cycle.
One of my plans in my career, is to be able to teach at a university level at least on a part-time basis. From my own family, I have witnessed that the medical profession is very, very hard on the body, and I would like to have the credentials in place to be able to make a career switch as opposed to not working at all, should something happen that I can no longer stay on my feet for 10-12 hours per day. Of course, that wouldn't be a clinical role...but I really couldn't imagine not working at all...even if I was lucky enough to win Powerball ! :)