Technology and the Nursing Shortage

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the nursing shortage and relates that technology-driven answers, including online learning, are being studied and utilized increasingly to meet these needs. The paper explains that a number of difficulties exist with such technology approaches, including hands-on clinical class work, which is an essential aspect of nursing curriculum. The paper concludes that growing demands in the healthcare workforce will mandate programs that are effective, accessible and convenient and that offer a sound theoretical basis, consistency and standardization.

From the Paper:

"In 2006, officials with the Health Resources and Services Administration projected that the nation's nursing shortage would grow to more than one million nurses by the year 2020 (Fact sheet). Such shortages are not consistent from one state to another, or even across states. For example, Michigan (Center for Nursing) conducted a study of its schools to determine the status of its nursing programs. In some cases, qualified applicants are not enrolled even though there are unfilled admission slots. Programs may have difficulty filling slots if they lack faculty, facilities, or clinical placement sites. Openings may also go unfilled if there are too few qualified applicants, if admitted applicants do not enroll due to financial or personal reasons or are accepted to other programs. Yet, while some programs report that they do not have enough qualified applicants, most say they have more qualified applicants than the number of approved admission slots. Overall, for the 40 institutions studied, 4,298 qualified applicants were not enrolled."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). March 2007. Fact Sheet. Nursing shortage. 24, July 2007. http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htm
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). January 2000. Distance Learning is Changing and Challenging Nursing Education. 24 July, 2007 http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Publications/issues/jan2000.htm
• Bird, Linda. A Nontraditional Approach to Educating Tomorrow's WorkforceCommunity College Journal. (Dec 2006/Jan 2007). 77.3; 48-52http://proquest.umi.com.libdb.fairfield.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=1264281271&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1185408053&clientId=48293
• Brown, Karen. A case study of the first year of a new online RN from LPN program: Evaluation of program and student outcomes. Central Michigan University (2005), 157http://proquest.umi.com.libdb.fairfield.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=885699271&SrchMode=1&sid=4&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1185408137&clientId=48293
• Curl, Eileen Deges, Smith, Sheila, Chisholm,LeAnn, Hamilton, Janet and McGee, Leah Anne Multidimensional Approaches to Extending Nurse Faculty Resources Without Testing Faculty's Patience, Journal of Nursing Education. (2007) 46. 4; 193-196http://proquest.umi.com.libdb.fairfield.edu/pqdweb?index=0&did=1245472751&SrchMode=1&sid=5&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1185408521&clientId=48293

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