Other Titles
PechaKucha Presentation
Abstract
It is estimated that between 2021-2031 there will be 194,500 openings for registered nurses (RNs) in the United States annually. The American Nurses’ Association calls for “real solutions” to this nursing shortage crisis by addressing barriers that prohibit students from earning nursing degrees. Barriers for students include personal financial status, exorbitant tuition, an unobliging work schedule, lack of emotional support, access to nursing programs and insufficient study time. Factors that support the obtainment of a nursing degree include employer support such as a flexible work schedule, tuition reimbursement or tuition funding.
A nursing professional development (NPD) position specializing in nursing workforce was created within an academic health organization to implement and oversee nursing development pathway programs to address these barriers. Collaboration with community partners, including local schools of nursing have resulted in the development of two programs and three different pathways to meet the unique needs of students on their journey to becoming a nurse.
Program A was established for those on an alternative pathway to nursing with the goal to mitigate barriers to success such as the need to maintain full time employment while accommodating class and clinical schedules. This program has three fully funded tuition pathways, and offers an hourly incentive and feasible work schedule to address these barriers. The pathways include patient care associate-licensed professional nurse (PCA- LPN), licensed professional nurse – registered nurse (LPN-RN) and a concurrent licensed professional nurse- Bachelor of Science in nursing (LPN-BSN).
Program B provides nursing students enrolled in a pre-licensure registered nursing (RN) program a tuition award, with a work commitment that begins after graduation. This program supports student’s tuition needs while mitigating the barrier of conflicting work schedules, and providing adequate study time and support.
Program outcomes tracked include nursing program completion rates, NCLEX pass rates, and organizational retention. Program A, PCA-LPN pathway has a 60% completion rate which is commensurate with the state nursing program completion rate of 60% and better than the academic partner’s completion rate of 53%. Program B has an anticipated ROI of 233% per participant. With an anticipated forty participants enrolled each year, the projected annual average savings are over $2,000,000.
Notes
References:
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nursing shortage fact sheet. Updated September 2020. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://www.aacnnursing.org/News-Information/Fact-Sheets/Nursing-Shortage.
Bartlett, R., Key, B., Montgomery, M., Johnson, P., Mumba, M., & Lester, B. (2022). Building the pipeline of underrepresented students: A program to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in nursing. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 60(1), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20211207-01
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational employment and wage statistics, May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Kentucky. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ky.htm
Exec. Order No. 2021-913, SOE, 1 (2021). https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20211209_Executive_Order_2021-913_SOE_Relating_to_Nursing_Shortage.pdf
2020 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing report https://www.nsinursingsolutions.com/Documents/Library/NSI_National_Health_Care _Retention_Report.pdf
Shellenbarger, T., & Hoffman, R. (2016). Advising 101: Lessons in advising for nursing student success. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 11(3), 92-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2016.01.006
Sigma Membership
Psi Upsilon
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Academic-Clinical Partnership, Continuing Education, Workforce, Nursing Shortage, Barriers to Nursing
Recommended Citation
Hall, Shelby Britt, "Breaking Down Barriers to Becoming a Nurse" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 168.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/168
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Breaking Down Barriers to Becoming a Nurse
Seattle, Washington, USA
It is estimated that between 2021-2031 there will be 194,500 openings for registered nurses (RNs) in the United States annually. The American Nurses’ Association calls for “real solutions” to this nursing shortage crisis by addressing barriers that prohibit students from earning nursing degrees. Barriers for students include personal financial status, exorbitant tuition, an unobliging work schedule, lack of emotional support, access to nursing programs and insufficient study time. Factors that support the obtainment of a nursing degree include employer support such as a flexible work schedule, tuition reimbursement or tuition funding.
A nursing professional development (NPD) position specializing in nursing workforce was created within an academic health organization to implement and oversee nursing development pathway programs to address these barriers. Collaboration with community partners, including local schools of nursing have resulted in the development of two programs and three different pathways to meet the unique needs of students on their journey to becoming a nurse.
Program A was established for those on an alternative pathway to nursing with the goal to mitigate barriers to success such as the need to maintain full time employment while accommodating class and clinical schedules. This program has three fully funded tuition pathways, and offers an hourly incentive and feasible work schedule to address these barriers. The pathways include patient care associate-licensed professional nurse (PCA- LPN), licensed professional nurse – registered nurse (LPN-RN) and a concurrent licensed professional nurse- Bachelor of Science in nursing (LPN-BSN).
Program B provides nursing students enrolled in a pre-licensure registered nursing (RN) program a tuition award, with a work commitment that begins after graduation. This program supports student’s tuition needs while mitigating the barrier of conflicting work schedules, and providing adequate study time and support.
Program outcomes tracked include nursing program completion rates, NCLEX pass rates, and organizational retention. Program A, PCA-LPN pathway has a 60% completion rate which is commensurate with the state nursing program completion rate of 60% and better than the academic partner’s completion rate of 53%. Program B has an anticipated ROI of 233% per participant. With an anticipated forty participants enrolled each year, the projected annual average savings are over $2,000,000.
Description
Through the development of a new Nursing Professional Development (NPD) workforce development position, a large academic healthcare organization is providing new pathways to mitigate barriers to the successful completion of nursing school.