AACN Nursing School Data Released

TheAACN released results of a survey conducted in 559 nursing schools across the US, and it's territories last week.

Findings show an increase in nursing degree program enrollments (14.1% over the previous year). However, "more than 32,000 qualified applications were turned away from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs". Applicants were often turned away due to faculty shortages, and other resource constraints. Those included "29,425 from entry-level baccalaureate programs; 422 from RN-to-Baccalaureate programs; 2,748 from master's programs; and 202 from doctoral programs".

This has a direct impact on future nursing educators, as students who go on to get higher degrees begin as baccalaureate students. This is particularly so if the desired qualification for faculty is the doctorial degree.

The AACN survey found that the number of graduates from masters programs increased 6.9% (669 students), and the number that graduated from doctorial programs was 2% (8 students). A program that is gaining momentum is the baccalaureate to doctorial program, accelerating the study course of potential younger faculty.

Results were collected on what AACN called "accelerated nursing programs". This program is defined as one that accepts students with prior degrees wanting to get nursing degrees (YSN GEPN). The number of program graduates in this course almost doubled from the previous year.

For more on the summary of this survey, see the AACN news release.