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PLATTSBURGH — More than 960 people applied to Plattsburgh State's nursing program for fall 2010.
The university has 55 slots for its four-year-degree program.
"Nursing is a very hot item right now," said Richard Higgins, director of admissions.
NATIONAL CONCERN
Nationwide, universities are experiencing an increase in applicants to nursing programs. But lack of full-time faculty and clinical space is limiting growth in the field, which would be helpful to combat a longtime nursing shortage that is expected to worsen.
An increasing number of people are applying to Plattsburgh State in pursuit of nursing careers.
In 2008, 581 individuals applied for 55 nursing slots, while that number jumped to 656 in 2009 and 965 this year.
"Medical positions are very sought after right now," Higgins said.
But clinical placements can enroll only a certain number of students, so Plattsburgh State must cut off the number of people accepted into the program at 55.
'MOST SELECTIVE'
University officials have discussed increasing enrollment, but that would require more faculty, and it's difficult to find individuals with a doctorate in nursing. Plus, it's a costly program, and CVPH Medical Center might not be able to handle any growth.
"It is the most selective undergraduate program here at the college," Higgins said.
CCC SWAMPED
Clinton Community College officials were surprised last year when 353 people applied for the associate's degree nursing program there, making it the biggest year ever. That is, until 430 individuals applied for the 70 seats available in the nationally recognized program this year.
"We always get more applications than we can accept," said Martha Hewitt, admissions adviser for nursing. "It is absolutely our most selective program."
Clinton officials have discussed expanding the program, but there are not enough clinical sites to place students nor adequate numbers of full-time faculty.
"The big issue is clinical sites," said Dr. Kathleen Kasprzak, director of nursing and allied health at CCC.
The school places students in area nursing homes, public-health programs and CVPH Medical Center.
ISSUE ACROSS U.S.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly 50,000 qualified applicants in 2008 due to lack of enough full-time faculty, clinical sites, classroom space and budget restraints.
Those numbers are only expected to increase this year, with institutions across the country experiencing a marked increase in applicants to nursing schools.
Columbia University Nursing School saw the number of applicants jump 20 percent to about 400.
Nursing programs in Indiana turned away about 2,500 qualified applicants due to a lack of full-time faculty, according to a survey by the Indiana Nursing Workforce Development Coalition.
LONG-TERM SHORTAGE
"We have looked into other sites out of the area for clinicals, but there just isn't enough room," Kasprzak said.
As a result, said Hewitt, many exceptional candidates don't get in, which is unfortunate at any time, but especially during a nursing shortage.
The nursing shortage started in 1998 and is expected to reach 260,000 by 2020, according to the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies.
The Great Recession has helped to slightly alleviate the shortage, with some workers returning to the field and others switching careers.
The average starting pay for an RN is about $56,000, according to the American Nurses Association.
"Probably 50 percent of the people who enter the program had another type of career or another college experience in another program," Hewitt said.
If the economy improves, the shortage is expected to pick up its pace, as the nursing workforce ages and retires. Retention problems, work overload and a frustration with the health-care system are also contributing to the shortage.
The risk for patients rises with the number of open nursing positions.
Many states have begun programs to address the concerns of the nursing workforce, such as prohibiting mandatory overtime, as well as initiatives to start recruiting and training more nurses.
The University of Texas Health Science Center launched a program allowing people with bachelor's degrees in other subjects to earn a four-year degree in nursing in 15 months.
New York state has significantly fewer nurses per capita than the national average, according to the Center for Health Workforce Studies. The reason, experts say, is that nursing schools do not have the faculty and space needed to train them.
"We are in the same kind of situation," Hewitt said. "We have not had to turn away students in any other major."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
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