Competition in nursing programs

1. Competition in nursing programs By: Amanda Kirincic

2. Requirements According to the UB school of nursing website: • A 3.0 GPA is required for all applicants to the program • A minimum grade of a C is required in all prerequisite courses • Applicants must have completed most, if not, all of the prerequisites for the program. • Applicants must also answer the question “Why do you want to be a nurse?” • Students applying to the program must participate in community service and get involved on campus.

3. UB Nursing School According to the UB school of nursing page: In 2012 80 students were admitted into the traditional nursing program (4 year BSN program) and had 327 applicants. The average GPA’s for the accepted students ranged from a 3.65 to a 3.75

4. The Issue • The nursing program at SUNY at Buffalo has a nursing educator to student ratio of 1:8. • Because of this, the number of students that can be accepted is limited

5. A Proposed Solution • The Maryland Board Of Nursing is proposing the idea that graduate nursing students who are working towards their degree in Nursing Education should teach the undergraduate students while they’re in school. • I agree that this should be implemented at SUNY at Buffalo, however I feel that the school should take it a step further and include any graduate nursing student working towards a graduate degree such as Nurse Anesthetists, Doctors of Nursing, and Nurse Practitioners. • If students were to accept this position they could teach the students and earn money towards paying off their tuition, similar to the “Work Study” program. • This is a win-win situation because not only are the graduate students teaching the undergraduates and reinforcing their knowledge, but because the program has more educators they could accept more nursing students into the program.

6. The Issue With the Solution • The limited space in the program causes not just SUNY at Buffalo but other nursing schools to “Weed out” the dedicated students from the not-so dedicated students. • If the school is to create more space in the program there wont be much competition between students, and more students who aren’t as focused will get into the program. • The issue with this is that the schools will be taking in students and if they don’t pass their exams and the program they will have taken up spots that could have been used by students who wanted that spot.

7. However… If the schools don’t allow more students into their programs the nursing shortage in the country will never decrease. Similarly if they don’t allow more students the school would be denying students who are qualified and passionate about the program.

8. Final Thoughts • The nursing program is a very competitive program, it isn’t easy to get in. If all schools, not just SUNY at Buffalo, would allow their graduate nursing students to teach the undergraduate students then there could be an increase in the number of nurses each year and a decrease in the nursing shortage across the country.

9. Works Cited • Hunter-Bellevue School Of Nursing. Photograph. Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing. 3 November 2013. <http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/nursing/admissions> • Behling Simulation Center.Photograph. University at Buffalo School of Nursing. 3 November 2013. <http://www.pandora.com/station/play/1685099238229567778> • “Nursing Faculty Shortage Causes, Effects, and Suggestions for Resolution” Web. 28 October 2013 http://www.mbon.org/commission/nsg_faculty_shortage.pdf • School of Nursing. University at Buffalo, n.d. Web. 28 October 2013 http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/academicprograms/nur_degrees.shtml • Ingeno, Lauren “Who Will Teach Nursing.” Inside Higher Ed. n pag. 28 October 2013<http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/22/nursing-schools-face-faculty-shortages>