In Texas, it's not just the nursing shortage--there's an acute nursing instructor shortage underway as well. To address this problem, nursing schools there are getting creative, instituting Web-based classes, providing stipends for new nursing teachers and taking other steps to staff nurse teaching positions. Right now, as in other states, Texas faces a severe nursing shortage over the next decade, but many nursing applicants can't even get an education. In Texas, in fact, nearly half of qualified applicants can't get into programs, according to state health officials. This gap isn't surprising, however, given that nurses with a master's degree may make $80,000 in non-academic settings but about half of that as an instructor. Also, many nurse faculty members are retiring, making the teaching vacancy rate worse.
To address this problem, some schools have begun offering stipends of $5,000 to $8,000 to new nurse-faculty recruits. When they succeed in attracting professionals through this route, schools use them not only in the classroom, but also to offer online classes. The schools are also working with hospitals, which provide clinical and lab training while the university or college offers the classroom lectures.
To find out more about Texas schools' faculty cultivation efforts:
- read this article from The Dallas Morning News
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