Academic Innovation and Relevance: Developing a Plan to Capture the Second-Degree Nursing Student Market

Nationally, nursing occupations are projected to grow by 15% between 2016 and 2026, faster than the average of all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). In most areas of the country, the demand for professional registered nurses is escalating, with positions available across the entire health care spectrum. A core problem facing the healthcare industry is a shortage of new nurses to replace those who retire. The shortage of new nurses becomes even more concerning as the general population ages. The 2015 national nursing workforce study reported that 50% of RNs were age 50 or older (NCSBN, 2015). The same report also indicated 25.1% of nurses surveyed were age 60 and over. Many states face a significant nursing shortage and statistics support the problem will worsen. For example, Georgia is likely to face a more significant shortage than some states due to rapid population growth. From 1970 to 2009, the population in the state of Georgia more than doubled, with Georgia ranking fourth among the fastest growing states in the country (Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, 2010). That trend continued into the next decade, with Georgia growing by 110,973 between 2015 and 2016, ranking seventh among the fastest growing states (Kanell, 2016). Employers in Atlanta indicated Georgia was one of the top three most competitive markets for health care (Miller, 2017).

Most nursing programs seek to enroll primarily post-secondary students who enter college following high school and complete core entry nursing requirements. A less recruited segment of the population may be the applicant who has already earned a non-nursing bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree. In 1990, there were 30 accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs developed across the country. Today, there are over 200 options, and the number is consistently growing. This extraordinary growth in accelerated programs may be attributed to a combination of the nursing shortage and excellent employment opportunities available to graduates. Accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs are also attractive to individuals desiring to pursue an opportunity in nursing through a change in career path. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing describes accelerated ABSN students/graduates as: 1) a motivated, older student with higher academic expectations than traditional entry-level nursing students; 2) students who are eager to gain clinical experiences, 3) excellent learners who are not afraid to challenge their instructors; and 4) Graduates who are prized by nurse employers. Employers report that these graduates are more mature, possess strong clinical skills, and employees who often require less long-term orientation.

Developing an accelerated BSN program may be an opportunity for nursing programs seeking to expand program enrollment. This presentation will present a plan of study to support the hybrid accelerated 12-month BSN program. The presentation includes addressing innovative curriculum discussion, solutions towards meeting faculty needs to support the program, suggestions for working with faculty on the development of an efficient curriculum model, and building program capacity through collaboration and partnership.