NURSING SCHOOL
ENROLLMENTS CONTINUE TO POST DECLINE,
THOUGH AT SLOWER RATE
Declines in Bachelor's-Degree
and Master's Enrollments Fall to Half of Previous Year's
Pace; Doctoral Classes See First Significant Growth in Five
Years
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 13, 2001
-- Enrollment of nursing students in entry-level bachelor's-degree
programs fell by 2.1 percent in fall 2000 and master's-degree
enrollments at nursing schools declined by 0.9 percent,
compared to a year ago, according to the latest annual survey
by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
Meanwhile, in doctoral nursing
programs, where growth had remained essentially flat for
the last five years, enrollments rose by 2.5 percent (71
students) in fall 2000 compared to the previous academic
year, the AACN survey found.
Although nursing enrollments
fell in entry-level bachelor's- and master's-degree programs
by less than half the 4.6 percent and 1.9 percent drops,
respectively, the year before, the continued declines --
the sixth annual drop in baccalaureate enrollments and third
consecutive decline in master's enrollments in as many years
-- come as demand for baccalaureate- and graduate-prepared
nurses continues to accelerate in more cities nationwide.
Hospitals, primary care centers, home care agencies, outpatient
surgical centers, and other health facilities in many regions
are reporting mounting shortages of registered nurses --
the largest health care profession -- to meet health
care and health promotion needs for the near future.
Declines in entry-level baccalaureate
nursing enrollments were seen in every region in fall 2000
except the West, which realized an increase of less than
1 percent (0.9 percent). Other regions saw decreases ranging
from 4.7 percent in Midwest schools, 1.6 percent in Southern
states, and 1.2 percent in North Atlantic schools, compared
to the previous year.
Master's-degree enrollments
grew in some regions, however. Although the number of master's
students fell by 3.6 percent in North Atlantic nursing schools
and declined by 2.2 percent in Southern states, those numbers
increased by 4.5 percent in the West and rose slightly by
0.7 percent in the Midwest.
Doctoral programs were the only
degree tracks in every region to not post enrollment declines
compared to a year earlier, the AACN survey found. Nursing
schools in the Midwest saw the highest doctoral enrollment
gains (up by 4.5 percent), followed by increases of 4.0
percent in the South, 0.4 percent in the West, and no increase
(0.0 percent) in North Atlantic schools.
AACN's findings are based on
responses from a total of 529 (78.8 percent) of the nation's
nursing schools with bachelor's- and graduate-degree programs
that were surveyed in fall 2000. Data reflect actual counts;
projections are not used. Programs offering two-year associate
degrees and hospital diplomas are not included.
Two-year changes in enrollments
and graduations, respectively, are based on responses from
a matched group of 499 and 491 schools reporting in both
1999 and 2000.
Declines May Be Moderating
"Hopefully, we are witnessing
the early effects of the last two years of widespread media
coverage of the emerging nursing shortage, as well as word
of the expanding array of rewarding professional opportunities
in contemporary nursing, finally reaching wider numbers
of potential students," explains AACN President Carolyn
A. Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN. "In particular, the declining
ranks of graduates from entry-level baccalaureate programs,
fueled by falling enrollments over the last several years,
posted a smaller decrease in 2000 than a year earlier [6.7
percent, compared to a decline of 7.7 percent in 1999]."
Overall, schools responding
to the AACN survey reported 103,999 students enrolled in
bachelor's-degree nursing programs in fall 2000.
Included in this total are 72,986 entry-level students and
31,013 registered nurses (with two-year associate degrees
or hospital diplomas) who returned to school to obtain the
bachelor's degree in nursing in RN-to-baccalaureate programs.
Between August 1999 and July 2000, 23,102 students graduated
from entry-level baccalaureate programs at responding schools.
RN-to-Baccalaureate Enrollments See Strong Declines in Every
Region
RN-to-baccalaureate programs
graduated 11,516 students at responding schools between
August 1999 and July 2000. In a matched sample of schools
reporting in both 1999 and 2000, the ranks of RN-to-baccalaureate
graduates fell by 0.4 percent, the AACN survey found. However,
unlike doctoral programs, which experienced no enrollment
declines in any region, enrollments in RN-to-baccalaureate
programs saw declines in every region in fall 2000, ranging
from 8.3 percent in the South to 8 percent in North Atlantic
schools, 5.6 percent in the Midwest, and 5.4 percent in
Western states.
Nationally, fall 2000 enrollments
of RN-to-baccalaureate students declined by 7.2 percent
below the year before.
In master's-degree nursing
programs, which prepare advanced practice clinicians
in a wide array of specialties as well as administrators
and educators, enrollments totaled 31,862 students in fall
2000. Master's programs graduated 10,272 students between
August 1999 and July 2000. In a matched sample of schools
reporting in both 1999 and 2000, the number of master's-degree
graduates fell by 3.9 percent.
Enrollments in doctoral nursing
programs totaled 3,024 students nationwide in fall 2000,
the AACN survey found. Responding schools graduated 444
students with doctoral degrees between August 1999 and July
2000, with the ranks of doctoral graduates climbing by 23.3
percent (84 individuals) in a matched group of schools reporting
in both years.
Copies of the AACN report, 2000-2001
Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate
Programs in Nursing, will be available after March
1 for $35 (including postage), prepaid orders only, from
AACN, Dept. 178, Washington, DC 20055-0178; (202) 463-6930.
Copies also can be ordered at AACN's Web site by downloading
the Publications
Order Form.
The American Association of Colleges
of Nursing is the national voice for university and four-year-college
education programs in nursing. Representing more than 580
member schools of nursing at public and private institutions
nationwide, AACN's educational, research, governmental advocacy,
data collection, publications, and other programs work to
establish quality standards for bachelor's- and graduate-degree
nursing education, assist deans and directors to implement
those standards, influence the nursing profession to improve
health care, and promote public support of baccalaureate
and graduate nursing education, research, and practice.
###
CONTACT: Robert Rosseter
(202) 463-6930, x231
rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu
