By 2020, the United States is expected to have a nursing shortage of at least 800,000 nurses. Despite this statistic, a growing number of qualified students are being turned away from nursing schools due to limited faculty, funding, and space. In fact, more than 16,000 qualified students were rejected last fall nationwide. Many believe this problem stems from the image and salary overhaul of the nursing profession, which occurred in the late 1990's. At that time, to attract and retain nurses amid a shrinking pool, hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities began attracting nurses through salary increases and unheard-of sign-on bonuses. These perks ultimately enhanced nursing school enrollment but created havoc on academia, as professors and nurses with P.h.D.s began choosing more lucrative nursing positions, rather than pursuing opportunities in academia. To counteract this dilemma, many nursing schools have implemented faculty loan programs where nurses from area hospitals agree to instruct classes at the nursing schools. Although these efforts have helped boost enrollment, more will need to be done to avoid the significant nursing shortage of the future.
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