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An often-overlooked aspect of the nationwide nursing shortage is the scarcity of nursing instructors at colleges and universities. The No. 1 reason institutions cite for not expanding their nursing programs is an insufficient number of faculty members to teach new classes, said Donna Meyer, CEO of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.
“If we don’t have faculty to teach the next generation of nurses, it’s going to be difficult,” Meyer said. “It’s getting more significant.”
But the accessibility of online graduate programs is encouraging more nurses to pursue advanced degrees, said Juliann Sebastian, chair of the board of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. About a quarter of all master’s programs in nursing were offered online-only in 2016, and the majority of the rest follow a blended curriculum that includes in-person and online elements, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
Theoretically, that means more nurses will pursue paths in academia, creating a larger pool for college nursing instructors, Meyer said.
“[Online programs] will certainly assist us,” she said. “There are many more options for people.”
Still, one reason the nursing instructor shortage exists is because people who choose to become nurses typically want to practice in the field. And if they earn master’s and doctoral degrees, they can earn more money as nurse practitioners or nurse anesthetists than they would as college professors, Meyer said.
“An educator is not compensated the same [as a practicing nurse],” Meyer said. “You have to have true passion for teaching.”
