Nursing Schools Are Boosting Enrollment
With nurses leaving the profession every day and not enough nurses entering it, nursing schools are trying to boost their enrollment numbers. According to the study "2008-2009 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing" by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, they are slowly succeeding.
Nursing schools are boosting enrollment on the baccalaureate level. In the 2008-2009 academic year, schools with entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs experienced a 9.6 percent increase in completed applications, totaling 208,784. The acceptance rate of these applicants equals 42 percent with 130,601 students meeting admission criteria and 87,620 being accepted. According to the survey, enrollment is significantly increasing with total enrollment in all baccalaureate programs equaling 214,533 students, compared to 201,407 in 2008. Nursing schools are also making efforts to boost enrollment in accelerated nursing programs for individuals who have already earned degrees in other academic fields. Twelve new accelerated programs for a baccalaureate nursing degree were launched in 2008, totaling 230 programs. More programs may help increase enrollment, currently a increased number of 11,960 students are enrolled compared to 11,018 in 2008.
With shortages in faculty, nursing specialists, and advanced nurses, nursing schools are also trying to boost enrollment in their higher-level degree nursing programs. In the 2007-2008 academic year, 69,565 students were enrolled in master’s programs, an increase of 10.9 percent from the previous year. Nursing schools experienced a 12.8 percent increase in the number of graduates from master's programs with 17,247 nursing students receiving a diploma. To further boost the enrollment of students studying nursing on this level, fifty-seven accelerated master's degree programs are now available. These accelerated programs currently enroll 4,577 students and 1,177 students graduated last year.
Boosting enrollment in doctoral nursing programs and research-focused doctoral programs is also crucial. Nursing schools are trying to boost enrollment in doctoral degree nursing programs, as there is a need for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to fill faculty positions, nursing research scientists, nursing specialists, and primary care providers. From 2007 to 2008 the number of students in doctoral programs increased by 20.9 percent, with an overwhelming majority of the growth occurring in Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs. The number of students enrolled in these programs almost doubled by 82 percent, going from 1,874 to 3,415 students, but enrollment in research-focused doctoral programs only increased by 0.1 percent with a total of 3,976 students. To encourage higher enrollment numbers the amount of available research-focused doctoral programs are increasing, with 120 of them currently enrolling students and eight others being developed.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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