http://www.nursingworld.org/ojin/topic14/tpc14_3.htm
The profession is facing a unique shortage of nursing faculty. Schools of Nursing have always had a shortage of doctorally prepared nursing faculty. The academic norm for faculty teaching in baccalaureate and graduate programs to hold earned doctoral degrees was established later in nursing than for other disciplines. At best, 50% of nursing faculty in such programs have met this academic standard. In addition, the shortage is predicted to escalate in the next decade due to the retirement of a "graying professoriate" of nursing faculty.
The shortage of nursing faculty is interwoven with the current national shortage of nurses. The shortage of nurses requires the educational programs of the profession to supply more graduates. But the shortage of nursing faculty will limit student enrollments and likely decrease the number of graduates. Conversely, the shortage of nurses will offer many opportunities and choices to nurses and may decrease the number selecting graduate studies and an academic career, thus contributing to the shortage of nursing faculty
The shortage of nursing faculty will also have consequences for the generation of the knowledge base for nursing practice. With a decreased number of individuals to conduct research and the loss of senior investigators through retirement, continuing development of nursing's knowledge base may be curtailed. The shortage of nursing faculty will also limit the professional leaders who are able to shape health policy in the state, national, and international arenas.
This article outlines a number of factors influencing the shortage of nursing faculty. Several institutional School of Nursing strategies are suggested for countering the shortage situation. In addition, several national professional and policy strategies are suggested. More creative strategies need to be developed and evaluated by Schools of Nursing and by the profession.
Key words: shortage of nursing faculty, nursing faculty shortage, strategies for shortage of faculty, consequences of nursing faculty shortage
Introduction
The profession is facing a unique shortage of nursing faculty. Schools of Nursing have always had a shortage of doctorally prepared nursing faculty. The academic norm for faculty teaching in baccalaureate and graduate programs to hold earned doctoral degrees was established later in nursing than for other disciplines. At best, 50% of nursing faculty in such programs have met this academic standard. In addition, the shortage is predicted to escalate in the next decade due to the retirement of a "graying professoriate" of nursing faculty.
The shortage of nursing faculty is interwoven with the current national shortage of nurses. The shortage of nurses requires the educational programs of the profession to supply more graduates. But the shortage of nursing faculty will limit student enrollments and likely decrease the number of graduates. Conversely, the shortage of nurses will offer many opportunities and choices to nurses and may decrease the number selecting graduate studies and an academic career, thus contributing to the shortage of nursing faculty
The shortage of nursing faculty will also have consequences for the generation of the knowledge base for nursing practice. With a decreased number of individuals to conduct research and the loss of senior investigators through retirement, continuing development of nursing's knowledge base may be curtailed. The shortage of nursing faculty will also limit the professional leaders who are able to shape health policy in the state, national, and international arenas.
This article outlines a number of factors influencing the shortage of nursing faculty. Several institutional School of Nursing strategies are suggested for countering the shortage situation. In addition, several national professional and policy strategies are suggested. More creative strategies need to be developed and evaluated by Schools of Nursing and by the profession.
Key words: shortage of nursing faculty, nursing faculty shortage, strategies for shortage of faculty, consequences of nursing faculty shortage
Introduction
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