Shortages in the nursing profession are nothing new. They are always critical, and state and local governments as well as healthcare communities must address the issues in a timely and forthright manner to maintain a level of health care that Americans expect.
The current shortage involves more than skilled registered nurses, however. There is a serious shortage of teachers in nursing schools, and that development represents a huge challenge as the American population ages.
A recent story in the (Nashville) Tennessean reported that about 3,000 potential nursing students were turned away last year because there was no place for them.
Tennessee has 46 schools offering 70 nursing programs, which range from licensed practical nursing training to doctoral degrees. In the past two years, the Tennessee Board of Nursing approved seven applications for new programs, including one at Christian Brothers University in Memphis that will enable RNs to improve their educational levels.
Elizabeth Lund, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Nursing, said the biggest challenge is the faculty shortage. There also is a great deal of competition for nurses with graduate degrees who in the past might have take a faculty position.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the nation's nursing shortage will grow as health care needs rise with the aging baby boomers. The problem comes at a time when nursing colleges at universities try to expand to meet the rising demand for nursing care.
Last fall, the Institute of Medicine released its report, "The Future of Nursing," a study initiated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report called for boosting the number of nurses with bachelor's degrees in the work force by 80 percent and doubling the number of nurses with doctorates. Currently, only 50 percent of registered nurses have bachelor's or graduate degrees.
Also compounding the problem is the fact that many nurses in the current work force are themselves baby boomers who will be retiring in the next 10 to 15 years.
Three years ago, the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply, an independent group of healthcare leaders based at the University of Pennsylvania, determined that 30,000 nurses should graduate annually to meet the nation's healthcare needs. That would be an expansion of 30 percent more than the current number.
Fortunately, the medical community and the state are addressing the problem, and help from other sources - local and private - would be appreciated.
The nursing community in Tennessee raised $1.4 million in 2007 for a fund to forgive the student loans of nurses with advanced degrees who teach for four years at the college level. The state has provided a $1.4 million match.
The program has aided the education of 245 nurses, and 52 are teaching this year, according to Naomi Derryberry, director of grants and scholarships for the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp. which administers the fund. She believes the fund will help nursing achieve its goal.
Despite the budget problems in the state, such programs need to continue and even expand to meet both anticipated and unanticipated shortages. Society will always need the healing care and attention that nurses have long provided.
The current shortage involves more than skilled registered nurses, however. There is a serious shortage of teachers in nursing schools, and that development represents a huge challenge as the American population ages.
A recent story in the (Nashville) Tennessean reported that about 3,000 potential nursing students were turned away last year because there was no place for them.
Tennessee has 46 schools offering 70 nursing programs, which range from licensed practical nursing training to doctoral degrees. In the past two years, the Tennessee Board of Nursing approved seven applications for new programs, including one at Christian Brothers University in Memphis that will enable RNs to improve their educational levels.
Elizabeth Lund, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Nursing, said the biggest challenge is the faculty shortage. There also is a great deal of competition for nurses with graduate degrees who in the past might have take a faculty position.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the nation's nursing shortage will grow as health care needs rise with the aging baby boomers. The problem comes at a time when nursing colleges at universities try to expand to meet the rising demand for nursing care.
Last fall, the Institute of Medicine released its report, "The Future of Nursing," a study initiated by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report called for boosting the number of nurses with bachelor's degrees in the work force by 80 percent and doubling the number of nurses with doctorates. Currently, only 50 percent of registered nurses have bachelor's or graduate degrees.
Also compounding the problem is the fact that many nurses in the current work force are themselves baby boomers who will be retiring in the next 10 to 15 years.
Three years ago, the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply, an independent group of healthcare leaders based at the University of Pennsylvania, determined that 30,000 nurses should graduate annually to meet the nation's healthcare needs. That would be an expansion of 30 percent more than the current number.
Fortunately, the medical community and the state are addressing the problem, and help from other sources - local and private - would be appreciated.
The nursing community in Tennessee raised $1.4 million in 2007 for a fund to forgive the student loans of nurses with advanced degrees who teach for four years at the college level. The state has provided a $1.4 million match.
The program has aided the education of 245 nurses, and 52 are teaching this year, according to Naomi Derryberry, director of grants and scholarships for the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp. which administers the fund. She believes the fund will help nursing achieve its goal.
Despite the budget problems in the state, such programs need to continue and even expand to meet both anticipated and unanticipated shortages. Society will always need the healing care and attention that nurses have long provided.
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