Nursing Doctoral Programs See 20% Enrollment Gains

Enrollments are up 20 percent in doctoral nursing programs, according to data released last week by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The increase is important, according to nursing educators, because enrollments in undergraduate programs are increasing only modestly -- despite demand for more nurses -- because of shortages of faculty members. The association estimates that more than 54,000 qualified applicants to nursing programs were turned away.