Nebraska

One of the reasons we are still experiencing a nursing shortage today is the lack of qualified nurses working as instructors and nursing faculty. Colleges and universities need to increase student enrollment of master's-level nurse educator training programs so that more nurses become qualified to teach and train others willing to work in the nursing field.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has released data from one of their surveys, showing that since 2004 nursing schools throughout the country have denied admission to tens of thousands of qualified individuals each year. The main reason cited for turning away students was not having enough instructors and nursing faculty. The nursing faculty shortage condition has not improved over the years. The most recent report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing regarding Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing is showing a worsening of the situation.

The report illustrates that in 2010 nursing schools throughout the country denied enrollment of 67,563 qualified students from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs. Not having enough nursing faculty, clinical instructors and qualified preceptors was the reason cited by two thirds of nursing colleges and universities. Other contributing factors included a lack of classroom space and available clinical sites, as well as budget constraints.