Possible Solutions to Nursing School Wait lists?

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 28, 2010

Actually, I think your suggestion to force everyone who goes to grad school (even if they are not specializing in education) to teach is a horrible idea. Forcing people into a job they are not educated for or want will only create more problems than it solves. Not everyone who goes to grad school should teach -- particularly not beginner-level students. Teaching beginner-level students is a very definite specialty.

How about ...

1. Raising the admission standards so that only people with a reasonable chance of graduating, passing NCLEX, and succeeding in a nursing career are admitted? That would "weed out" a lot of students who are now using those valuable clinical slots, making room for others who are more likely to succeed.

2. Compensating the hospitals for providing clinical sites to nursing students. In a lot of areas, it's the lack of clinical sites that is the bigger problem.

3. Increasing faculty pay so that an instructor can earn at least as much as a new graduate earns in the hospital? ... thus making the faculty job more attractive

4. Hiring clinical faculty as full time employees so that they can get benefits such as health insurance, a retirement plan, etc.? Many (most?) clinical faculty are only adjuncts and not eligible for benefits. That eliminates a lot of unmarried people for those jobs who don't have husbands to provide those things.

5. Supporting faculty members who try to enforce high standards rather than catering to student convenience in the name of "customer service."

These are just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

Edited 6/29: I apologize for my careless failure to use inclusive language in #4 above. I should have said "partners" rather than "husbands." It's just that I was thinking of a few personal friends in this situation who happen to be heterosexual women as I wrote the post. I did NOT intend to exclude men or homosexuals. We are all in this together -- and I apologize if anyone felt excluded and/or was offended by my original wording.

LouisVRN, RN · Jun 28, 2010

With the difficulty new grads are having with finding a job, I don't know if forcing more through the program at a quicker rate would be beneficial.

I agree that having students become unwilling teachers is a horrible idea :uhoh3: . Teaching someone is a hard job and should be done by someone passionate about teaching.

I also agree with the above poster's suggestions offering additional benefits to faculty and clinical sites would probably help the most.

Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2010

JM...In my honest opinion... I think making someone teach is like making someone precept... how many threads have we seen about folks being with horrible preceptors?? Not everyone wants to teach, nor should they have to. Again, just my own opinion.. Ivanna

SunSurfRN · Jun 28, 2010

Churning out more new grads will only serve to further erode pay, make job hunting even worse etc...leave it the way it is. Matter of fact I think some schools should close.

savnlivzPRN, LVN · Jun 28, 2010

llg... I wish I could kudos you more then once

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jun 28, 2010

How about ...
1. Raising the admission standards so that only people with a reasonable chance of graduating, passing NCLEX, and succeeding in a nursing career are admitted? That would "weed out" a lot of students who are now using those valuable clinical slots, making room for others who are more likely to succeed.

llg,

You Rock - as usual, your response was "spot on"!!! We need to get over the mindset that everyone deserves to be admitted to nursing school - and put an end to the sky-high attrition rates we now have. Probably won't make any difference to those who are willing to mortgage their futures by borrowing $100k to go to a commercial school tho.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 28, 2010

llg,
Probably won't make any difference to those who are willing to mortgage their futures by borrowing $100k to go to a commercial school tho.

The thought of some people who are so unwise coming into our profession makes me shudder to think of it.

I am surprised that I haven't gotten flamed yet in this thread. I thought a lot of people would be angry at what I said.

Intern67 · Jun 28, 2010

JM...In my honest opinion... I think making someone teach is like making someone precept... how many threads have we seen about folks being with horrible preceptors?? Not everyone wants to teach, nor should they have to. Again, just my own opinion.. Ivanna

I was under the impression that precepting is very often simply a part of a nurse's job. Nurses are instructed and evaluated on teaching ability and teaching appears to be a fundamental part of being a nurse.

It is true that "not everyone wants to teach," but if that is the case, choose a profession where it is not part of your job description.

Music in My Heart · Jun 28, 2010

that eliminates a lot of unmarried people for those jobs who don't have husbands to provide those things.

err, spouses or partners? ;-)

itsmejuli · Jun 28, 2010

If only nursing students who were guaranteed to pass the NCLEX on the first try were admitted to nursing school there would be no wait lists.

Intern67 · Jun 28, 2010

1. Raising the admission standards so that only people with a reasonable chance of graduating, passing NCLEX, and succeeding in a nursing career are admitted? That would "weed out" a lot of students who are now using those valuable clinical slots, making room for others who are more likely to succeed.
.

Totally agree and this is one of the reasons I chose the nursing school I did. It is notorious for being difficult to get into and having stellar graduation and NCLEX passing rates. And as the advisors are fond of saying. "We do not have a waiting list."

I remain impressed by my CC's straightforward approach. They hold regular informational programs and tell the prospective students "Here is how to get in, get a 3.75 plus GPA on these courses and make sure that the science courses are less than two years old."

Immediately a bunch of hands shoot up. "What if, But can I, What if I have 11 kids, What if I can't quit my job, But I was a CNA for 10 years, What if I'm not good at Math, What if I'm not good at Chemistry, What if I almost got in last year, What if I'm not good at memorizing...."

The answer to all the questions was the same, "Get a 3.75 plus GPA on these courseas and make sure that the science courses are less than two years old."