Nursing shortage! Nursing program waiting lists!

KatrinaPM · May 7, 2005

Also, consider the fact that it isn't just educator shortages but problems with finding enough clinical spots in the area. I just finished ( ) nursing school in the Washtenaw County Area in Michigan and there are three nursing schools in the immediate area and many other schools that travel up to the area that also take up clinical spots. A ton of coordination goes into arranging clinical placements and I think that we're challenged as far as space for that reason, not because there aren't enough teachers.

Oh, and there was a comment about Detroit being in Wayne county and being an awful place to live....I am tempted to dispute that remark. Wayne county is huge and there are even places in Detroit (yes, the city of) that aren't a threat and are really nice neighborhoods. It just depends on wha part of the city you are located. Wayne county has a ton of really nice suburbs too. I know Detroit has a bad wrap but it's like many other big cities with good areas and areas to avoid.

CNM/NDstudent · May 7, 2005

Hi all...

I just thought I would put in my two cents here. I didn't read every single post so if this has been brought up I apologize for repeating.

I ran into the same problem where I live in SE Ohio. I am 29 with four little kids and I started back to school when I was pg with my youngest. The wait lists were so awfully long here and everywhere else for ADN and BSN programs that I ended up completing a BA in Psychology (took about five qtrs) that I started right out of HS. I then applied to an accelerated MSN/ND program and will ultimately have my certified nurse midwife license and both my MSN and ND in only a year longer than I would have had my ADN from the local community college. I feel I will be in a much better position this way (being able to work as a CNM, RN, do research or even teach if I want to).

I also looked into accelerated BSN programs that take about 12-24 months to complete depending on the school and the pre-req requirements and most of the time you have to have a Bachelor's in another field but there is little financial aid for people who have a Bachelors already and are getting a second Bachelors. The program I am entering doesn't award a BSN only a certificate of nursing which allows you to sit for the RN and then you complete the MSN so you are eligible for Graduate student aid.

So for those of you who have completed or are close to completing a Bachelors in any other field (even if you started it many years ago) you may be interested in checking out those programs. There are normally no wait lists and some allow you to start without the Bachelors as long as certain requirements for one are completed (which vary by school).

I hope any of this information is helpful - I was frustrated too and luckily my friend who is an RN pointed me toward the accelerated programs.

Hope you all have a great day! :nurse:

DeLySh · May 7, 2005

FYI - some schools (like mine) who are on the quarter system not the semester system, take new students 3 times a year (fall, winter and spring). It's worth looking into.

Good luck!

DeLySh

DragonflyShell · May 7, 2005

I am in the nursing program at a CC in Illinois. I know when I applied there were at least 250 applying for only 44 seats and this year there was just as many but this time there is only 33 seats for the first year. I learned the reason for taking so few was the lack of teachers. The CC aren't just able to pay a decent salary to encourage anyone to apply. Why would one want to leave a working nursing position and decrease their pay just to teach students?? The CC once talked about raising the salary but the other instructors threw a fit and demanded that they too get the same type of raise. So it didn't happen.

If they hire another instructor, maybe not this year but the following year they'll increase the number of incoming students.

Shell

hsnicol · May 7, 2005

Hi there, thought that I would ask if anyone has any ideas for me. I am a foreign nurse who trained in Australia, have lived here for three years and am still battling the system. It took me an awful long time to just get the commission of foreign nurses to issue a certificate for my qualifications. Of course after battling them I was told that I needed to do Maternal/infant health and Psych. I live in North Florida and was told that it was easier to apply to the Georgia Board of Nursing which I did and they told me that I could go to school in Florida. So off I went trying to get a spot in one of the local schools only to be told that there are no spots available, which I kind of find hard to believe as I am sure that there are some drop outs each year. Anyway one of the schools even told me that I have to have a letter from the Florida board of Nursing so am currently filling out the paperwork for them. It just seems never ending and so depressing as I do miss working and I am sure that the shortage is real, just on the experience that my step father had recently in hospital (but that is a whole other story) Anyway any ideas or help with figuring out what to do would be so appreciated. Just an aside to this the college that told me that I had to apply thru the Florida Board offered me a job teaching once I was qualified, go figure????? :uhoh3:

been there · May 7, 2005

I am working on completion of my pre reqs for the ADN program at my local CC. I am a little concerned over the fact that upon my app. I will be placed into a random selection pool. One-third of the class will be alternates from the previous year .Two-thirds will be new apps. I knew what I was walking into, however I just don't understand why. There is a nursing shortage and such high demand for nurses. Why don't we have more programs to educate those who are ready, willing and able. I live in CA. Are other states in the same boat? I'm a mom of three . 33 years old. I work PT and attend classes. Just curious about what others have to say about this issue.

I was lucky. I got into nursing school the first time I tried. We entered by GPA and there were only 25 slots. However, what about the nursing shortage when there are a lot of us who have only been retired a couple of years and need to go back to work.... rarely have I heard anyone say they were accepted. It is said that it would cost too much to train us!!! Don't hospitals still do a 3 month training for new nurses???????

michelleicu · May 9, 2005

I'm in San Diego and the wait list here is 2 years for the community colleges. You can get in but you have to wait. SDSU is tough to get into also even tho they have no wait list because they run by points. The higher the grades the more points. Plus way more pre-reqs and you have to do something extra like volunteer in a hospital setting or be a girl scout leader or something for more points to be able to make it in because it is so competitive. Guess its' pretty much the same all across the country.
FW

hey there Faeriewand,i'm in SanDiego too,what school do you go to?I live in southbay.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · May 9, 2005

hey there Faeriewand,i'm in SanDiego too,what school do you go to?I live in southbay.

I'm in East County. ( But not way east) I attend Grossmont College. I would love to get into the program there. I am taking Anat/Physio this summer and A/P II and Micro bio in the fall. Then I will apply there and then continue to take classes to get into state. I will start at state next fall but not sure when I can get into the nursing school.

Hey did you know Cal State San Marcos is opening up a nursing school this FALL? That is really good! That will take our wait lists down just a bit!

I wonder if Grossmont Health Occupations Center has a wait list too? Do you know?

Nice to hear from you! :) Post again ok?

FW

sailaway · May 12, 2005

Turning away qualified nursing candidates is a terrible shame and I am not convinced that this problem is going to be remedied in the short run. Those people most qualified to leave the bedside and take a position as a nurse educator cannot quit their present position to attend a residential graduate program. Many online programs set up unreasonable hurdles like requiring a minimum number of courses per term, requiring residential stayes, etc.

We have just launched a Master of Nursing Education degree at the University of St. Augustine eliminating all of these hurdles. We have a lot of interest in the program but even we are not going to graduate enough nursing faculty to do anything but put a small dent in the problem.

It is my personal opinion (and probably not a very popular one) that the NLN and the CCNE continually increase the threshold requirements for nursing faculty at the same time they are crying about the lack of people who are coming into the role--it just does not make sense to me!

sfdonna · May 13, 2005

1.Here in CA the governor is cutting funds to higher education 2. Attaining a PhD is a long process; most schools require this degree for teaching ; as many nurses have a AS degree, a PhD is a long way off!! 3. Now that we are finally being paid what we deserve, nursing has become attractive 4. Unfortunately nurses are being imported and as long as that occurs there is less incentive by the state to expand nursing education.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · May 18, 2005

MOST SCHOOLS ARE ON THE SAME BOAT :bluecry1:

Lima · May 21, 2005

If there is a Nursing Shortage, why is there a waitlist for all the area RN programs? This is a good question, however the best answer might be that Hospital Facilities can only accommodate a limited number of students in training. Safety of the patient is the highest priority. There are over 40 RN programs in Southern California. Also, RN programs are costly, and require most dollars per student than many other professional programs. All RN programs are highly regulated by the Board of Registered Nursing and are carefully evaluated.

Check out http://www.grossmont.edu/nursing/faq.asp