Solutions
Project Director - Sheila Keller, PhD
Barriers to Nursing Education Survey
The U.S. Department of Labor has identified nursing as the fasting growing occupation in terms of growth through 2012. Over one million new and replacement nurses will be needed to fill the healthcare needs of our nation over the next seven years. Yet, current demand for quality nurses far outstrips the supply; and increased future needs will only exacerbate the crisis. In 2002, the Health Resources and Services Administration estimated that over 30 states were experiencing nursing shortages, and the shortfall would grow to over 44 states by the year 2020. Mississippi is one of the 30 states experiencing a nursing shortage with a vacancy rate of 7.7%. The Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce (ONW) has begun developing and implementing strategies to decrease the current and future nursing shortage by partnering with nursing schools, policy makers, healthcare facilities and other stakeholders.
In 2002, The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and (ONW) entered into a partnership to enhance the nursing workforce and career opportunities for nurses within the state of Mississippi. In response to the increasing nursing shortage in Mississippi and the high attrition rates in nursing schools across the state, this initial partnership included a project entitled the Healthcare Education Barrier Identification and Resolution Project.
Phase I of Healthcare Education Barrier Identification and Resolution Project began in the fall of 2002 and included a survey of all nursing students and nursing faculty in the state of Mississippi. The study entitled Nursing Education Barriers Identification Survey was developed and administered in the fall of 2002 and included one survey for nursing faculty and another for nursing students. Each survey focused on several key areas, including basic demographic information and faculty and student perceptions on a range of relevant topics. Key areas of interest included level of educational preparedness and skills, preparedness upon entry into nursing school, recommendation of courses and skills needed prior to entry into nursing school, current job related activities, barriers to successful completion of nursing school, and plans to remain in the local area.
All nursing programs in the state of Mississippi participated in the survey (100% response). Of the total nursing student population in Mississippi, 2,270 (75%) participated in the survey, and 272 (70%) nursing education faculty in the state participated in the survey. Of the 2,270 respondents, 76% were in Associate Degree Nursing programs, 20% were in Baccalaureate programs, 2% were in LPN-RN Track nursing, and 2% were in RN-BSN nursing programs. The response rate was directly proportional to the types of nursing programs in the state, approximately 66% Associate Degree programs and 33% Baccalaureate programs. The Nursing Education Barriers Identification Survey overall statewide report was published and provided to all nursing schools in the state. In addition, nursing schools were provided individual data reports identifying their student and faculty findings. Based on the findings, ONW identified several key areas that called for future exploration. Phase II of the Barriers project was developed in an attempt to provide additional information and resources that may lead to a student's successful completion of nursing school.
Phase II of the Barriers to Nursing Education began in the fall of 2003. A task force was established to develop strategies to ameliorate the barriers identified in Phase I. Task force members were solicited from various stakeholders such as the Council of Mississippi Deans and Directors of Schools of Nursing, hospital administrators, leaders from the Mississippi Department of Education, the Rural Health Association, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi Board of Nursing, Mississippi Nurses Association, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, and Mississippi Community College Board. The Barriers Task Force created four sub-groups to facilitate the work of the task force. Each subcommittee met over the 2003 - 2004 fiscal year and made recommendations on ways to reduce the barriers identified in the Phase I survey. The four groups formed were entitled:
- Financial
- Life Demands
- Student Preparation
- Retention/Attrition
Various strategies were used to address the issues identified by each sub group. As a result of these meetings, ONW developed a web-based resource network for students, faculty, and healthcare facilities across the state. This network provides resources that address the barriers identified by students and faculty in Phase I of this project. The web-based resource network is located at www.studentnavigator.org . Phase II also included improvements in policy, procedure, and/or communication at various organizations which improves student access, progress, and success.
Phase III of the Healthcare Education Barrier Identification and Resolution Project began in the fall of 2004 and continued to develop the strategies recommended by each subgroup and to expand the barriers knowledge base. This included a study to determine the barriers to Allied Health Education by surveying all Allied Health students in the state and repeating the Nursing Education Barriers Identification Survey.
The 2004 Nursing Education Barriers Identification Survey also received 100% response from the nursing programs in the state. Three-thousand twenty (70%) students participated in the survey, which represented an increase of 750 students from the 2002 survey. Three-hundred fifteen nursing education faculty participated (69%), which was an increase of 43 from the 2002 survey. Of the 3,020 respondents, 71% were in Associate Degree Nursing programs, 22% were in Baccalaureate programs, 4% were in LPN-RN Track nursing, and 2% were in RN-BSN nursing programs. The response rate is similar to the proportion of students in Associate degree and Baccalaureate programs in the state.
The Allied Health Education Barriers Identification Survey was administered in the fall of 2004 and received 100% response from the twenty-four Allied Health schools across the state of Mississippi. Participation in the survey included n=2,279 students (70% response rate) and 202 (72% response rate) allied health education faculty.
In addition to the overall statewide Education Barrier reports, each nursing and allied health school received an individualized report outlining findings from their particular school. The reports generated from the analysis of the nursing and allied health barriers studies are concise and give clear descriptions of the findings. The reports will be useful to the Mississippi nursing and allied health workforce collectively, and each school individually as the state responds to the demands of the nursing and allied health shortfall. The reports will also serve as resources for directing future initiatives through collaboration and partnerships, and as a guide for agencies, workforce investment areas, and other organizations that encounter individuals making career decisions for the first time or those seeking a career change into healthcare.