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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
This report has been requested by the Tennessee Center for Nursing. The authors have attempted to review and analyze preliminary data provided by nursing education programs. Due to the short timetable for this document, a preliminary analysis is submitted for review by the Tennessee Center for Nursing and the Tennessee Board of Nursing. The data are limited due to the three year time period identified on some of the summaries. Some reports reveal data for one year only. Readers should keep these facts in mind when reviewing these findings.
We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the endeavors of the Tennessee Center for Nursing. Tennessee Wesleyan College Fort Sanders Nursing Program stands ready to assist in future projects as needed.
This report is based on several data sources and contains tables and graphs to vividly depict specific findings as follows:
Data Source
• Tennessee Board of Nursing Reports 2002 served as the sole source of data for this report as follows:
o RN Program Student Enrollment Form
o RN Program Faculty Survey Form
o RN Graduates by Gender and Ethnicity
o LPN Program Student Enrollment Form
o LPN Program Faculty Survey Form
o LPN Graduates by Gender and Ethnicity
Tables and Graphs
• Specific tables and graphs have been completed in relation to student enrollment, faculty work status and qualifications, and gender and ethnicity with respect to nursing students. In most cases, separate tables have been developed for professional and practical nursing programs.
Observations
• The report is divided into four (4) main areas:
o Overview of nursing programs
o Student enrollment in nursing programs
o Faculty qualifications and work status in nursing programs
o Gender and ethnicity of nursing students
o Final Comments and Future Directions
PART I: OVERVIEW
• Tennessee currently has 33 nursing programs preparing students for RN licensure and 25 nursing programs preparing students for LPN licensure
• Professional nursing programs include one (1) diploma program, 13 associate degree programs, 17 baccalaureate degree programs and (2) two programs preparing nurses for entry into nursing practice at the master’s degree level. In addition, three (3) programs are designated as RN completion programs.
• A majority of the practical nursing programs are offered at Technology Centers in a variety of locations across the state.
• The data are limited with respect to a three year period of time to make specific comparisons. Furthermore, faculty vacancy data and attrition rates are not identified by specific programs. Because of these limitations, trends are limited and longitudinal comparisons of variables are not possible.
• This report therefore will identify preliminary observations related to the nursing school data.
• Future comparisons and reports shall be completed at the direction of the Tennesee Center for Nursing and the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
PART 2: STUDENT ENROLLMENT
Professional Nursing Programs
• All types of RN nursing programs experienced an increase in enrollment from 2000 to 2002 (11%).
• The diploma program increased enrollment from 127 to 192 students from 2000 to 2002 (34%).
• Associate degree programs increased enrollment from 1941 to 2338 (17%).
• Baccalaureate degree nursing programs increased enrollment from 2248 to 2464 (9%).
• An increase of about 31% enrollment (71 to 102) was identified from RN completion programs.
• Generic master’s degree nursing programs increased enrollment almost 11% (283 to 317).
• Graduate nursing programs decreased enrollment from 532 to 467 which is 12%.
Practical Nursing Programs
• Enrollment in practical nursing programs increased from 1324 to 1517 (13%).
Issues
• There is a need to determine attrition rates for nursing programs
• Attrition rates should be correlated with NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN pass rates
• Graduate nursing programs decreased enrollment by 12%.
PART 3: FACULTY
Professional Nursing Programs
| • Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Programs |
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o 94 faculty have doctorates in nursing and 82 have doctorates in fields other than nursing |
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o Most faculty have master’s degrees in nursing |
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o Approximately 25% of faculty practice part time |
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o Most faculty with doctorates in nursing or other fields practice in baccalaureate degree nursing programs and master’s degree programs |
• Associate Degree Nursing Programs |
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o Most faculty have master’s degrees in nursing |
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o A total of 25 faculty hold doctorates |
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o There is an increase in the number of faculty with the highest degree as baccalaureate in nursing |
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o About 33% of the faculty work part time as compared to 25% in baccalaureate degree programs |
• Issues |
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o There is a concern related to the number of part time faculty in associate degree nursing programs with respect to continuity and coordination of programs |
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o Vacancy data are needed to track trends with respect to faculty needs |
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o Longitudinal data (ten (10) year period) are needed to identify trends in faculty qualifications, full and part time faculty and respective assessments |
PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAMS
PN Faculty Overview |
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• Less than 50% of the faculty in practical nursing programs work part time |
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• More than 50% of PN faculty hold less than a bachelor’s degree in nursing |
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• Ten (10) faculty hold master’s degrees in nursing |
Issues
• The academic preparation of faculty in practical nursing programs is a concern
• There is a need to identify faculty vacancies to determine if adequate faculty are employed in practical nursing programs.
• Faculty: student ratios should be calculated over time
PART 4: GENDER AND ETHNICITY OF NURSING STUDENTS
Professional Nursing Programs
• Data reveal little diversity in the student population
• Predominant group of influence is African American (black) with about equal representation in baccalaureate degree and associate degree programs
• Slight increase in male students within Associate Degree nursing programs (9.4% AD as compared to 8% in BS)
• Overall percentage of African Americans (black) is 8% in RN programs.
Practical Nursing Programs
• The influence of African Americans in PN programs is significantly higher (18%) than RN programs (8%).
• Practical nursing programs present more diversity in the student population than professional nursing programs
• There is a decrease in the number of males (5.5%) in PN programs as compared to RN programs (8%).
• Males seem to select another career option other than practical nursing programs.
• There seems to be an increase in African American (black) females who select practical nursing programs.
Issues
• There is a need for trend data over a period of ten (10) years to determine patterns of diversity over time.
PART 5: FINAL COMMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
• Enrollment has increased over the past three years in professional nursing programs and practical nursing programs
• A concern may exist with respect to the number of part time faculty employed in Associate Degree nursing programs
• The qualifications of faculty in practical nursing programs may be an issue
• The decrease in graduate program enrollment is of concern in light of the current national faculty shortage
• There is a need to examine Board of Nursing longitudinal data regarding enrollments, faculty qualifications and summaries, NCLEX results, and diversity
• The Board of Nursing might consider collecting data with respect to attrition rates and faculty vacancies from nursing education programs
By: Ruth Elliott, EdD, RN Chair, TWC-FSN
Margaret Heins, EdD, RN FAAN, Professor, TWC-FSN
Kathy Schultz, EdD, RN, Assistant Professor, TWC-FSN
June 4, 2003
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