The nursing shortage: a continuing challenge: the shortage of educationally prepared nursing faculty

Abstract

The profession is facing a unique shortage of nursing faculty. Schools of Nursing have always had a shortage of doctorally prepared nursing faculty. The academic norm for faculty teaching in baccalaureate and graduate programs to hold earned doctoral degrees was established later in nursing than for other disciplines. At best, 50% of nursing faculty in such programs have met this academic standard. In addition, the shortage is predicted to escalate in the next decade due to the retirement of a "graying professoriate" of nursing faculty. This article outlines a number of factors influencing the shortage of nursing faculty. Several institutional School of Nursing strategies are suggested for countering the shortage situation. In addition, several national professional and policy strategies are suggested. More creative strategies need to be developed and evaluated by Schools of Nursing and by the profession.