With Enrollments Rising for the 5th Consecutive Year, U.S. Nursing Schools Turn Away More Than 30,000 Qualified Applications in 2005

South Carolina Nurse, The,  Jan-Mar 2006  

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Enrollment Increase Falls Far Short of Meeting the Projected Demand for RNs

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 12, 2005 - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) released preliminary survey data today which show that enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 13.0 percent from 2004 to 2005. Though this increase is welcome, surveyed nursing colleges and universities denied 32,617 qualified applications due primarily to a shortage of nurse educators. AACN is very concerned about the increasing number of qualified students being turned away from nursing programs each year since the federal government is projecting a shortfall of 800,000 registered nurses (RNs) by the year 2020.

"With the nation's health care system calling for more baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce, AACN is pleased to see that the trend toward enrollment increases has continued for the fifth consecutive year," said AACN President Jean E. Bartels. "Despite the successful efforts of schools nationwide to expand student capacity, our nations nursing schools are falling far short of meeting the current and projected demand for RNs." According to research conducted by Dr. Peter Buerhaus from Vanderbilt University, enrollments in nursing programs would have to increase by at least 40 percent annually to replace those nurses expected to leave the workforce through retirement.

AACN's annual survey is the only resource for actual (versus projected) data on enrollment and graduations reported by the nation's baccalaureate and graduate degree programs in nursing. This year's 13.0 percent increase in enrollments is based on data supplied by the same 408 schools reporting in both 2004 and 2005. This is the fifth consecutive year of enrollment increases with 14.1, 16.6, 8.1, and 3.7 percent increases in 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001, respectively. Prior to the five-year upswing, baccalaureate nursing programs experienced six years of declining enrollments from 1995 through 2000. For a graphic depiction of enrollment changes in baccalaureate nursing programs from 1994-2005, see http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/ppt/94-05EnrChgs.ppt.

The AACN survey also found that the number of graduates from - entry-level baccalaureate programs increased by 19.1 percent from 2004 to 2005. This data is based on information supplied by the same 393 schools reporting for the past two years. The recent rise in graduations follows 14,4.3 and 3.2 percent increases in the number of graduates in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. This upward trend was preceded by a six-year period of graduation declines from 1996 through 2001.

AACN's latest data confirm that interest in nursing careers continues to grow, which is good news considering the projected demand for nursing care. Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor identified Registered Nursing as the top occupation in terms of job growth through the year 2012. According to the latest projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012.

Given the demands of today's health care system, the greatest need in the nursing workforce is for nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and higher degree levels. With the federal Health Resources and Services Administration calling for baccalaureate preparation for at least two thirds of the nursing workforce, the evidence clearly shows that higher levels of nursing education are linked with lower patient mortality rates, fewer errors, and greater job satisfaction among RNs. Nurse executives, federal agencies, the military, leading nursing organizations, health care foundations, magnet hospitals, and minority nurse advocacy groups all recognize the unique value that baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to the practice setting and their contribution to quality nursing care.

"AACN is committed to working with the health care community to create a highly educated nursing workforce able to meet the challenges of contemporary nursing practice," added Dr. Bartels. "We strongly believe that encouraging all nurses to advance their education is in the best interest of patients and an important step toward enhancing patient safety."

The robust interest in professional nursing can be attributed in part to successful outreach efforts guided by nursing schools nationwide. Strategies employed to increase student capacity this year included forming alliances with hospitals, the business community and other stakeholders to address faculty and clinical space constraints. Some schools have expanded or opened new accelerated programs for second-degree seekers looking to transition into nursing while others have taken advantage of state and federal funding aimed at strengthening the nursing workforce. In addition to these school-based initiatives, both Johnson & Johnson and the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow coalition continued their national media campaigns to encourage careers in nursing.

Qualified Students Turned Away Despite Nursing Shortage