Alabama Nursing Education at a Glance, Fall 2014

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Angelina Gregory
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1 Education is not a static process. It evolves with newly discovered best-practices, technology, and innovation in the classroom. As our nation s healthcare system transforms and more services are provided outside the hospital walls, nurses must be educated for these opportunities and challenges. A life-long learning approach is required for nurses to stay current, which includes higher levels of education and continual learning beyond the academic setting. Given the great need for registered nurses (RNs), including Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), and nurse faculty in a newly reformed healthcare system, it is crucial to maximize funding for professional nursing education and research. Below are state-specific data that policy makers must consider as they make funding decisions to support America s nursing workforce, nursing science, and the patients they care for. Congress must consider longterm financial planning in these areas not doing so would place the health of our nation in jeopardy. Alabama Nursing Education at a Glance, Fall 2014 In 2014, nursing schools in Alabama enrolled 10,845 students in Baccalaureate and Graduate programs in nursing and produced 3,555 graduates across program levels. 1 Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Student Diversity by Program Level 1 Baccalaureate Master's PhD DNP All Programs Minority* 21% 19% 38% 32% 22% Men 12% 13% 11% 12% 13% Total 5,330 4, ,417 10,845 Additionally, there were 4,324 nursing students studying to become APRNs, including 4,112 Nurse Practitioners, 154 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, 57 Clinical Nurse Specialists, and 1 Nurse-Midwife. 1 Elevating the role of nursing science for healthcare advances is more critical than ever. As the nation works to ensure adequate nursing capacity in high need areas, nurses with research-focused doctorates (PhD) will be essential to creating the evidence that will inform and support contemporary nursing practice, improvements in patient care, and reductions in health disparities Years of PhD Enrollments Alabama Years of PhD Graduates Alabama

A life-long learning approach is required for nurses to stay current, which includes higher levels of education and continual learning beyond the academic setting.

2 Understanding the Faculty Shortage A shortage of faculty is a primary obstacle to expanding the nation s nursing workforce and meeting care demand. In 2014, AACN reported that over a thousand qualified applicants were not offered admission to doctoral (1,844) programs due to a faculty shortage as well as other resource constraints. According to AACN s Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year , most open faculty positions either require (57.5%) or prefer (32.1%) doctorally-prepared faculty members. Of the schools surveyed, approximately two-thirds report insufficient funding as one of the biggest obstacles to hiring additional faculty. The problem will exacerbate as many faculty reach retirement age in the next decade. According to AACN's report on Salaries of Instructional and Administrative Nursing Faculty in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, the average ages of doctorally-prepared nurse faculty holding the ranks of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor were 62, 58, and 51 years, respectively. An increased focus and investment must be placed on educating more doctorally-prepared nurses for faculty positions. 10 Years of Faculty Vacancies Alabama 44 Average Age of Alabama Nurse Faculty YEARS 13 AACN Member Schools in Alabama (By Congressional District) Spring Hill College (AL-1) University of Mobile (AL-1) University of South Alabama (AL-1) Troy University (AL-2) Auburn University at Montgomery (AL-2) Auburn University (AL-3) Jacksonville State University (AL-3) Tuskegee University (AL-3) University of Alabama in Huntsville (AL-5) University of North Alabama (AL-5) Samford University (AL-6) The University of Alabama (AL-7) University of Alabama Birmingham (AL-7) The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) represents over 760 schools of nursing offering a mix of baccalaureate, graduate, and post-graduate programs at institutions nationwide. For more information on AACN or higher nursing education, visit or contact us at

According to AACN s Survey on Vacant Faculty Positions for Academic Year 2014-2015, most open faculty positions either require (57.5%) or prefer (32.1%) doctorally-prepared faculty members.

3 Federal Nursing Funding Facing state budget cuts and the reality of recent economic conditions, our schools and the students they educate depend on federal dollars. In particular, the Nursing Workforce Development programs authorized under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) are essential to nurse workforce stability and health care quality. The Title VIII grants are awarded to colleges and universities within each state and provide financial assistance to both nursing education programs and individual students. For over 50 years, the Title VIII programs have been instrumental in supporting the pipeline of registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nursing faculty. As one of the 27 Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health, the NINR supports research that examines health and illness across the lifespan and establishes the scientific basis for quality patient care. Through grants, research training, and interdisciplinary collaborations, NINR addresses health promotion and disease prevention, quality of life, health disparities, and endof-life care. NINR also helps train the next generation of nurse researchers, who serve as faculty in America s nursing schools. TITLE VIII 10 Years of Funding in Alabama 2 NINR FY2006: $6,183,024 FY2007: $7,043,777 FY2008: $8,629,401 FY2009: $7,551,191 FY2010: $7,426,872 FY2011: $7,272,207 FY2012: $7,228,977 FY2013: $7,499,234 FY2014: $6,422,387 FY2015: $6,377,238 FY2006: $77,977 FY2007: $211,571 FY2008: $387,000 FY2009: $907,718 FY2010: $777,645 FY2011: $1,288,090 FY2012: $906,747 FY2013: $928,657 FY2014: $935,473 FY2015: $1,552,736 Summary of Fiscal Year 2015 NINR Grants by Alabama Congressional District Project Title Congressional District Total Grant Funding Comprehensive Heartcare For Patients And Caregivers AL-7 $683,537 Quadrupedal Human-Assistive Robotic Platform (Q-Harp) AL-7 $394,257 Risk Factors For Sepsis In The Community AL-7 $474,942 Total Grant Funding by District AL-7: $1,552,736 3

) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) are essential to nurse workforce stability and health care quality.

4 Summary of Fiscal Year 2015 Title VIII Grants by Alabama Congressional District Program Congressional District Total Grant Funding Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship AL-1 $348,825 Advanced Nursing Education Grants AL-1 $356,305 Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Interprofessional Collborative Practice AL-1 $442,671 Nurse Faculty Loan Program AL-1 $161,729 Nursing Workforce Diversity AL-3 $332,455 Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship AL-5 $347,553 Nurse Faculty Loan Program AL-5 $108,863 Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships AL-6 $25,527 Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Veterans Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program AL-6 $349,768 Nurse Faculty Loan Program AL-6 $1,741,140 Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship AL-7 $350,000 Advanced Nursing Education Grants AL-7 $369,891 Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships AL-7 $52,955 Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention - Veterans Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program AL-7 $306,994 Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention - Interprofessional Collborative Practice AL-7 $496,519 Nurse Faculty Loan Program AL-7 $237,501 Nurse Faculty Loan Program AL-7 $348,542 Total Grant Funding by District AL-1: $1,309,530 AL-3: $332,455 AL-5: $456,416 AL-6: $2,116,435 AL-7: $2,162,402 4

Workforce Diversity AL-3 $332,455 Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship AL-5 $347,553 Nurse Faculty Loan Program AL-5 $108,863 Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships AL-6 $25,527 Nurse Education, Practice,

5 Alabama Nursing Workforce at a Glance 3,4 Access to Primary Care in Alabama 5,6 Access to primary care providers is critical to maintaining a healthy population and reducing the rising cost of health care. Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/Ps) are areas/populations the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has designated as facing barriers to accessing health care. There are 99 MUA/Ps in Alabama. 4 Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) are designated as having shortages of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers and may be geographic, population, or facilities (federally qualified health center). There are 80 HPSAs that face primary care provider shortages. 1 American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2015) Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing. Washington, DC. 2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. (2015). AACN compilation of Title VIII and NINR grant funding. Retrieved October 1, 2015 from and 3 Alabama Board of Nursing. (2015). Alabama Board of Nursing Daily Statistics. Retrieved February 11, 2015 from 4 Alabama Board of Nursing. (2015). Alabama Approved RN Programs and NCLEX Results. Retrieved February 11, 2015 from United States Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. (2015). Medically Underserved Areas/ Populations (MUA/P) State Summary of Designated MUA/P. Retrieved February 5, 2015 from 6 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration. (2015). Designated Health Professional Shortage Areas Statistics. * Minority Enrollment includes African American, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. ** NCLEX takers include graduates of Associate s, Bachelor s, and Master s degree programs in nursing. 5

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has designated as facing barriers to accessing health care. There are 99 MUA/Ps in Alabama.

Arizona Nursing Education at a Glance, Fall 2014

Arizona Nursing Education at a Glance, Fall 2014 Education is not a static process. It evolves with newly discovered best-practices, technology, and innovation in the classroom. As our nation s healthcare system transforms and more services are provided