Nursing Schools & Programs Make Progress in Diversifying Nursing Students & Workforce, According to New NLN Survey

Nursing Schools & Programs Make Progress in Diversifying Nursing Students & Workforce, According to New NLN Survey

Gains Recorded in Minority Hires with Fewer Qualified Applicants Turned Away & Increased Minority Enrollment in BSN Programs Amid Persistent Faculty Shortage

Washington, DC — The National League for Nursing Annual Survey of Schools of Nursing across the spectrum of higher education has just been released, presenting a mixed snapshot of the state of nursing education today. Survey results are for the 2022-23 academic year, the most recent data available as provided by deans and directors from nearly 40 percent of 980 member programs and schools.

The most promising statistic of the current survey was a meaningful decrease reported in the share of qualified applicants denied admission to basic RN programs: 18 percent. This is lower than last year’s report that showed more than a quarter of qualified applicants had been turned away. The shortage of nurse educators and a decline in spots for clinical placements were cited among the reasons for the still tough competition for admission to nursing school.

Another positive trend relates to the age of students pursing an RN. More than half—54 percent—are under 25, while more than three quarters—76.3 percent—are 30 or younger. With 62.2 percent of nurse educators over the age of 45 and more than 20 percent nearing retirement at 61 or older, having an influx of younger nurses who may one day opt to teach provides a measure of relief to an aging profession and strained nursing education system.

Promising gains were also evident in the hiring of full-time faculty of African Americans, who made up 11 percent of the survey sample, compared to only 4.2 percent of the previous year’s full-time faculty. By contrast, however, full-time faculty who identify as Hispanic fell this year from 11 percent to 4.6 percent of the nurse educator workforce. At the same time, nursing education continues to struggle with diversifying its faculty and student body. Both remain overwhelmingly white and female.

Men continue to be underrepresented in both faculty ranks and among nursing students enrolled in basic RN programs. Only 8.23 percent of full-time nurse educators are male, essentially unchanged from last year’s 8.1 percent, and male nursing students in this survey cycle account for 14.2 percent, just a slight increase over last year’s 13.3 percent of RN candidates. Meanwhile, individuals identifying as transgender, genderqueer or non-binary make up a miniscule 0.1 percent of both full-time faculty and RN-enrolled students.   

Hiring new faculty also remains a huge challenge, although there are fewer openings compared to last year. According to the survey, 77 percent of programs now say they plan to hirefor nearly 840 budgeted vacant positions; last year, nearly 1,000 faculty slots were open, with 86 percent of programs pursuing new hires. More than 80 percent of schools this year cite difficulty recruiting candidates; last year that figure was slightly lower at just under 80 percent.

Tenure track positions have grown even scarcer, one factor that may make nursing education a less attractive career choice for nurses with advanced degrees, like doctorates in nursing practice and an MSN, which is required for teaching. Nearly 70 percent of today’s nurse educators are untenured, with only 14.7 percent on a tenure track.

“We believe this information can be of enormous value to nursing education leadership, public health officials, and public policy experts in crafting initiatives to influence hiring and retention, admission policy, and academic budgets. This data also can impact Title VIII support for scholarships and programs for nursing workforce development, a vital national priority,” said NLN Chair Patricia Sharpnack, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN, Dean and Strawbridge Professor at the Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions at Ursuline College in Ohio.

“While we clearly have much more work to do, this 2022-23 academic census indicates that we are making headway, however slowly, in some key areas that may impact the future health of our communities. If we can maintain the gains that we’ve seen this year and commit to chip away at the obstacles to progress, we can transform nursing education to build an outstanding, diverse nursing workforce, prepared to deliver outstanding, equitable care,” said NLN President and CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN.

For more information, including a downloadable infographic, visit NLN.org.

 

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