University of Northern Iowa nursing program approved by Board of Regents

[A Fan In Lean Years]

I will I can not accurately speak for all 35, only the three with which I am very familiar.

I know you can't, as you weren't describing one of the other 32 that I've had 23 years of experience with.

Didn't tell me a thing that was new.

[Skej75]

The article wasn't just talking about California, my friend, but in several areas of the country.

As for a local example, if you're in Waterloo/CF it's within 80-90 miles of here, in state as well. Been going on for my 23 years association with the place.

I will try one more time and then give up. I wish UNI the best in their efforts to enter the nursing education field. However, they will be the roughly 36th school in the state to offer a nursing degree up to the MSN level. We are short of nurses and nurse educators in Iowa but it is not because of a lack of schools to prepare them. Few if/any are full to capacity, although, or course, I can not accurately speak for all 35, only the three with which I am very familiar. Covid has adversely affected the number of students entering nursing programs and remote learning has affected the quality. These are national trends that has been reported in all the papers. I have directed my comments to Iowa and not CA and "several areas of the country" from a couple years ago. Enough.

[A Fan In Lean Years]

I don't claim much expertise at Long Beach or in CA in general but I think my IA knowledge at least holds its own. As I pointed out a few posts ago, there is also a shortage of nurse educators which is step 1 in upping the number of nursing students. You might also note that I previously mentioned covid as reducing demand for nursing schools. As well as a lack of available clinical sites, etc., assuming you want them to have hands on experience. If you come up with something local, I'll be happy to consider it. Otherwise, don't bore me with a CA article from two years ago.

The article wasn't just talking about California, my friend, but in several areas of the country.

As for a local example, if you're in Waterloo/CF it's within 80-90 miles of here, in state as well. Been going on for my 23 years association with the place.

[Newsbreaker]

UNI's nursing program might be a different value proposition that the other local nursing programs. I'm not sure it's quite an apples-to-apples comparison. Additionally, UNI isn't only trying to draw students from the CV.

[Skej75]

I have 23 years of experience with a nursing school, and, yes, it is INDEED the major problem. Waiting list to just get into the nursing program for this one institution is two years

Here's an article verifying this. https://hechingerreport.org/when-nur...p-with-demand/

I don't claim much expertise at Long Beach or in CA in general but I think my IA knowledge at least holds its own. As I pointed out a few posts ago, there is also a shortage of nurse educators which is step 1 in upping the number of nursing students. You might also note that I previously mentioned covid as reducing demand for nursing schools. As well as a lack of available clinical sites, etc., assuming you want them to have hands on experience. If you come up with something local, I'll be happy to consider it. Otherwise, don't bore me with a CA article from two years ago.

[A Fan In Lean Years]

I am quite familiar with two nursing schools and, believe me, the problem is not people waiting in line to get into the programs. Enrollment is declining and there are plenty of open spots. Could the programs be shortened somewhat to cut costs? Possibly, as long as the quality is maintained. Worth a try, I guess, but I don't get the impression that is what UNI has in mind. A BSN takes about 4 years no matter the school. You can get the RN designation at a community college (assuming you pass the boards) and if that is good enough for you it is probably the most cost effective. There are lots of quality RN's out there lacking the bachelor's degree, that's for sure.

I have 23 years of experience with a nursing school, and, yes, it is INDEED the major problem. Waiting list to just get into the nursing program for this one institution is two years

Here's an article verifying this. https://hechingerreport.org/when-nur...p-with-demand/

[Skej75]

Primary problem with the shortage is that nurses aren't getting out of school quick enough. Waiting lists for too many students at schools is creating a backlog of students just waiting to get into programs.

I am quite familiar with two nursing schools and, believe me, the problem is not people waiting in line to get into the programs. Enrollment is declining and there are plenty of open spots. Could the programs be shortened somewhat to cut costs? Possibly, as long as the quality is maintained. Worth a try, I guess, but I don't get the impression that is what UNI has in mind. A BSN takes about 4 years no matter the school. You can get the RN designation at a community college (assuming you pass the boards) and if that is good enough for you it is probably the most cost effective. There are lots of quality RN's out there lacking the bachelor's degree, that's for sure.

[A Fan In Lean Years]

Primary problem with the shortage is that nurses aren't getting out of school quick enough. Waiting lists for too many students at schools is creating a backlog of students just waiting to get into programs.

[Skej75]

75 million baby boomers retiring by 2030.

Check the demographics.

They're gonna need nurses.

We aren't talking about the next 2 years...talking about the next 25-50.

No one doubts that many nurses will be needed in the years ahead. No one is rooting against UNI's proposed nursing program. However, if you look at current numbers, the problem is not a lack of nursing schools in Iowa, it's a lack of students. Plus many who graduate don't want to stay here, although that is another issue. Will the new program add to the pool or simply detract from existing programs? It remains to be seen.

[Blue42]

"8,000 qualified applicants in the Midwest who were not admitted to nursing school."

I have no idea where this number came from or if it is accurate. Locally, there are exactly zero qualified applicants who are not admitted to the two existing local nursing schools. The number of students are down in both, in part due to the stress of covid. Nursing has became an even more stressful job in recent years and the paperwork/bureaucracy has increased which is true in far too many jobs. Nurses are now as likely to spend as much time on the computer as with their patients. My understanding is that the work ethic has declined as has the quality of students due to too many online classes. And, yes, as 70 grad pointed out, there is a shortage of nurse educators as well.

75 million baby boomers retiring by 2030.

Check the demographics.

They're gonna need nurses.

We aren't talking about the next 2 years...talking about the next 25-50.

[BCPanther]

"8,000 qualified applicants in the Midwest who were not admitted to nursing school."

I have no idea where this number came from or if it is accurate. Locally, there are exactly zero qualified applicants who are not admitted to the two existing local nursing schools. The number of students are down in both, in part due to the stress of covid. Nursing has became an even more stressful job in recent years and the paperwork/bureaucracy has increased which is true in far too many jobs. Nurses are now as likely to spend as much time on the computer as with their patients. My understanding is that the work ethic has declined as has the quality of students due to too many online classes. And, yes, as 70 grad pointed out, there is a shortage of nurse educators as well.

Damn kids don't want to work, I'm sure...

[Skej75]

"8,000 qualified applicants in the Midwest who were not admitted to nursing school."

I have no idea where this number came from or if it is accurate. Locally, there are exactly zero qualified applicants who are not admitted to the two existing local nursing schools. The number of students are down in both, in part due to the stress of covid. Nursing has became an even more stressful job in recent years and the paperwork/bureaucracy has increased which is true in far too many jobs. Nurses are now as likely to spend as much time on the computer as with their patients. My understanding is that the work ethic has declined as has the quality of students due to too many online classes. And, yes, as 70 grad pointed out, there is a shortage of nurse educators as well.

[BCPanther]

Iowa is 48th in nursing wages. Education opportunities is not the problem, keeping new grads in the state is.

Perfect marriage then. 84% of UNI grads stay in state. It's the only university in the state that's 'truly' Iowa.

[desertcat]

Iowa is 48th in nursing wages. Education opportunities is not the problem, keeping new grads in the state is.

['70 Grad]

8,000 qualified applicants in the Midwest who were not admitted to nursing school.

Wondering if there is a shortage of qualified faculty?