Posted Dec. 10, 2009

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing released preliminary survey data showing enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 3.5 percent from 2008 to 2009. But although interest in nursing careers remains strong, nearly 40,000 individuals who sought to enter a nursing program could not be accommodated due to faculty and resource constraints.

This marks the 9th consecutive year of enrollment growth, but nursing schools point to a shortage of faculty, insufficient clinical education sites and budget cuts as barriers to future growth. Survey data also show a surge in enrollments in graduate nursing programs, which is promising given the need for nurses to serve in teaching, leadership, specialty and primary care roles.

The annual survey is widely held to be the most reliable source for actual (versus projected) data on enrollment and graduations reported by the nation's baccalaureate- and graduate-degree programs in nursing. This year's 3.5 percent enrollment increase for entry-level baccalaureate programs is based on data supplied by the same 511 schools reporting in both 2008 and 2009.

For a graphic depicting 1994-2009 enrollment changes, click here.

The survey also found the number of graduates from entry-level baccalaureate programs increased by 3.2 percent from 2008 to 2009 (492 schools reporting). The rise in graduations follows 8.5, 8.6, 18.4, 13.4, 14.0, 4.3 and 3.2 percent increases in the number of graduates in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. This upward trend was preceded by a 6-year period of graduation declines 1996-2001.

Additionally, preliminary data from the survey show enrollment in master's and doctoral degree nursing programs increased significantly in 2009. Nursing schools with master's programs reported a 9.6 percent increase in enrollment (409 schools reporting) and a 10.5 percent increase in graduations (380 schools reporting).

In doctoral nursing programs, overall enrollment is up by 20.5 percent (154 schools reporting), and graduations increased by 1.9 percent (92 schools reporting) from 2008 to 2009. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs account for the largest share of the growth in this student population with a 40.9 percent increase in enrollments reported this year (85 schools reporting). In 2009, the number of students enrolled in research-focused doctoral programs (i.e. PhD, DNSc) increased by 4.1 percent according to preliminary estimates.

"Moving more nursing students into graduate programs is a top priority for the profession given the growing demand for more nurses to serve as teachers and researchers as well as specialty and primary care providers," said Dr. Raines. "As we move closer to healthcare reform, many more nurses with master's and doctoral degrees will be needed to provide essential healthcare service, including nurses to serve in the four Advanced Practice Registered Nurses roles (Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwife)."

Qualified Students Turned Away

Preliminary data from the survey show 39,423 qualified applications were turned away from 550 entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs in 2009. This number is comparable to final data reported on students turned away in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, which ranged from 36,400 to 41,385 applications. That number is expected to increase when final data on qualified applications turned away in 2009 is available in March 2010.

Based on data received from 318 schools of nursing, the primary barriers to accepting all qualified students at nursing colleges and universities continue to be a shortage of faculty (60.7 percent) and an insufficient number of clinical placement sites (61 percent).

Given the cuts in state funding to schools of nursing last year, the number of schools reporting budget cuts/insufficient budget as a primary reason for turning students away more than doubled from 14.8 percent in 2008 to 31.1 percent in 2009.

For a graphic showing the number of qualified applicants turned away from entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs over the past 8 years, click here.