Shortage of instructors = waiting?

[fUsi0n86]

From what I understand the waiting lists to enter nursing programs are so long because there aren't enough of nursing instructors. It is because the salary between the nursing instructors and actual practicing nurses are not comparable enough and it's financially not worth it to be teaching. Now, I don't know how many nursing students are in one particular class, but wouldn't this problem be solved by simply chipping in a few more thousand dollars using your school loan? If there are 30 students in a class and each paid $5,000 more in addition to the say... $30,000 or whatever the school is charging... that's $150,000, enough to pay for an instructor or even two. I'd personally be willing to pay a little extra to get in earlier rather than having to wait 2-3 years. Share your views please.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I never thought about that perspective; there seems to be specific issues regarding getting both, professors and students to come during slots that are not 'prime'. Thanks, llg for sharing that!

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Another factor is that each school has to be approved by the board for the number of students they admit. If the board only approves them for 50 seats per semester then that's all they can accept.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Another factor is that each school has to be approved by the board for the number of students they admit. If the board only approves them for 50 seats per semester then that's all they can accept.

True ... but the number of students that a school is allowed to accept is based on the resources they have to provide the education. That means things like .... faculty, clinical sites, classrooms, etc. ... which goes back to the things that the other posters have been saying. The State Board of Nursing does not set the number allowed arbitrarily. They base their decision on the available resources that the school has at its disposal. If we can increase the resources, then the number of students can be increased.

However ... others would argue that we don't NEED more nursing students. We need:

1. Better jobs for nurses ... attractive jobs that will retain them in the profession, particularly better jobs at the bedside. The shortage is at the bedside, not in the more attractive positions.

2. Better selection of nursing students so that existing student slots are not taken by people unlikely to succeed in nursing and/or maintain a long-term career as a practicing nurse.

[Simpleplan]

It's not solely an instructor thing. Instructor shortage is an issue but so is the number of students who graduate and pass their NCLEX. If they accepted anybody and everybody and enough students didn't graduate or pass their boards the school will lose funding and accreditation. That has happened to several schools where I live.

[fUsi0n86]

Oh, and considering the pay rate for new nurses, I think it would be a horrible idea to raise the tuition rates. Nurses aren't wealthy, you know.

I personally wouldn't mind paying an extra few thousand (up to $5k let's say) if it meant getting into a program 2-3 years earlier considering the money you can make in those lost years. I have some friends here in NJ that are waiting exactly that, 2 and 3 years. They have good grades but there are just so many people applying they still have to wait.

[PoetryInMotion]

I know I would be more than willing to attend a program that wasn't on a regular 9-5 schedule. If that would make me a nurse sooner, I would take it in a heartbeat.

[lsyorke, RN]

I recall hearing from someone that Jersey law mandates that there is a 10:1 ratio students to professors. And the professors must have a BSN or above. Don't know if it's like that in other states. New Jersey is known for being a little backwards

I believe NJ requires a Masters Degree to teach in an RN program.

[Simpleplan]

Wow, >$60,000? My entire 2 year program at a community college costs just over $4,000. You would be better off just getting an RN from a community college and then going to a RN to BSN program (with much of it paid for by the hospital) afterwarrds. You wouldn't have any debt to pay off.

I said I will be over 60 years old before I pay it off. In fact I owe close to $80,000. It cost me about 30,000 working toward my Bio degree and about 50,000 to get my RN. It all didn't go toward school, but somebody had to pay the bills.

[Jeffthenurse]

I recall hearing from someone that Jersey law mandates that there is a 10:1 ratio students to professors. And the professors must have a BSN or above. Don't know if it's like that in other states. New Jersey is known for being a little backwards

I've taught in nursing schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. NJ is not backwards in making that law about the 10:1 radio of students to professors. Think about having each student pass meds to their 2 patients--very time consuming, long periods on our feet, and we can't spend time with the other students who may need our help. During emergencies in PA, I've had 16 students at one time---far too many. About having a MN or MSN: I've found that there is a vast difference in teaching ability between MSN's & BSN's, and that having the MSN and experience increases the ability to teach. I found that as a student and an instructor, those with the Master's Degree were better teachers.

[suni, BSN, RN]

There are many reasons for this:

1. There are not enough master prepared nurses, at least in my state and most programs now required an MSN to be a clinical instructor.

2. The money in nursing is at the bedside. So, if I go in debt for my MSN and then leave the bedside to teach not only do I have student loans but I am earning less money to pay them off. There needs to be more help available for those of us who would love to teach but see little financial return for our time and effort.

3. I started an a nurse aid, then an LPN then an RN and now have my BSN but I am 50 years old and at this point with the cost of fuel, food and everything else the bedside is where I will remain.

4. There is a limited number of clinical spots and most people as stated in a previous post want the day shift , no week ends no evenings. Years ago in the 3 year programs, students did clinical on all 3 shifts and on weekends. WHen you think about this nursing is a 24/7 job, students come out and want all dayshift or office jobs because that is what they are use to from school

5. Retention is now and will continue to be an issue if schools do not prepare students better for the reality of nursing, acuity is high, LOS is low, y ou need to be on top of your game .

6. I love nursing and would love to teach having been a bedside nurse for many years I feel I have much to offer but for now I will stay whre I am.

[suni, BSN, RN]

16 students is way too many not only are the students not getting the education they are paying for, the instructor cannot do the job they want to do. It is the same as the staffing patterns in hospitals, too few nurses for too many patients.

[Bill E. Rubin]

I think part of the "day shift and no holiday" issue with clinicals isn't just that students are unwilling. Since instructors don't get paid as much as nurses by the bedside, one of the big reasons nurses choose to go into teaching is so that they don't have to work nights, weekends and holidays anymore.

Other reasons for this include the fact that unit staff and support is at its peak during weekdays (this is given as a reason why my unit orientation at the job I start next month will be primarily done during weekday shifts) and that the variety of possible interventions tends to be highest during the day shift. I know that on my unit, some students were doing clinicals during the first half of the evening shift, which was kind of novel.