The critical nationwide nursing shortage spurred administrators and faculty to find creative ways to draw prospective students into nursing.
But as nursing student numbers increase, there has been a push by administrators and the federal government to help boost the number of qualified nursing faculty.
With help from a $194,000 award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Emory University's nursing school will provide students with tuition assistance in exchange for serving four years as nursing faculty at an academic institution after graduation.
The Nursing Faculty Loan Program is being implemented by the Health Resources and Services Administration of DHHS. Students enrolled full time in an advanced-degree nursing program at eligible schools can qualify for up to 85 percent of the loan being cancelled after their two-year agreement as a faculty member has been fulfilled.
"The severe faculty shortage has impeded the ability to accept all qualified applicants into nursing programs across the country," said Sandi Dunbar, RN, DSN, FAAN, professor of adult and elder health.
Dunbar is working with professor Roberta Kaplow, RN, Ph.D., to coordinate the program.
Emory's nursing school has a combined total of 53 part- and full-time faculty.
Last summer, the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing also coordinated another effort in response to the pressing need for nursing educators. Ten students completed the Emory Summer Nursing Teaching Institute, an innovative post-master's certificate program.
The fast-track course offered the master's-prepared clinicians an efficient program to become skilled educators.
The teaching practicum built on the clinical knowledge of nurses and ensured that participants learned the techniques to deliver educational materials in a skilled and effective manner.
Participants in the 2003 Emory Summer Nursing Teaching Institute had the option to complete all or part of the program. Upon completion of the entire sequence, participants earned 12 graduate-level academic credits (nine semester hours in the summer and three semester hours in the fall).
During the summer session, classes were held in workshop format, followed by online activities and assignments.
For information about Emory's Nursing Faculty Loan Program, call Chrystal Jefferson at 404-727-7953.
- Emory University