In spite of the nursing shortage, would-be nurses are on waiting lists to get into traditional nursing schools. One reason for this is that the nursing shortage goes all the way from the bottom of the ladder to the top: there aren’t enough nursing educators to answer the need.
A Shortage of Nurse Educators
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in 2006 the National League for Nursing (NLN) estimated that over a thousand full-time teaching positions were unfilled nationwide: an almost eight percent vacancy rate in traditional four-year and higher degree programs. There was an almost six percent vacancy rate in associate’s degree programs. What is more, the vacancy rate was increasing.
This has led to waiting lists for nursing schools, even as the health care industry cries out for more nurses. Health care policy makers and practitioners are looking for ways to educate would-be nurses in spite of the shortage of educators.
Online Nursing Programs Offer Flexibility
One hopeful prospect is online learning. There are now many accredited online nursing programs. The online environment offers flexibility for both teacher and student. Nursing educators can serve students on a part-time basis and in greater numbers than in a limited classroom space. Students, in turn, can hold down jobs and/or care for children with the flexibility online learning affords. People who otherwise could not attend school may be able to complete online degree programs, tapping into new sources of nursing students.
An important consideration in online learning is proper accreditation. Clearly a career that so closely affects the well being of others, often in emergency settings, needs to have people in it who are well trained according to certain criteria.
In selecting an online program, important accreditations to look for are from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (from the diploma level on up) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (four year and graduate nursing programs).
Online learning is becoming a viable and accepted choice in many educational fields, including nursing. It may be the key to closing the gap between available educators and educational aspirants.