Will closed schools make nursing shortage worse?

Any thoughts? http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201307060064

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- There is a nursing shortage in some areas of the state and country, but it's unclear if or how problems at West Virginia's nursing schools will affect that shortage, the head of the state's nursing board said.

Two of West Virginia's nursing schools -- Mountain State University and Salem International University -- have lost accreditation in recent months.

The board recently reinstated provisional approval for Salem's school and is permitting students currently enrolled in the program to continue. Mountain State University lost accreditation and the entire university closed.

"Is there a nursing shortage? Yes, in some places," said Laura Rhodes, executive director of the Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. "The board's responsibility is for public protection. It's not about numbers. It's about nurses who are competent and capable to take care of us."

A poor economy in recent years changed the nation's nursing shortage, Rhodes said. Some nurses who were planning to retire haven't because of the economy, she said.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the United States' nursing shortage will intensify as Baby Boomers get older and the need for health care grows. Enrollment in nursing schools isn't growing fast enough to meet the projected demand for registered nurses, according to the AACN.

There also is a shortage in nursing school faculty, which contributes to poor enrollment numbers at nursing schools.

Probably not. No doubt enrollment will increase in other schools as national pollsters feature the nursing profession as one of the "most promising" careers of the future... Nobody talks about the abysmal nursing job situation where so many war-torn nurses would love to abandon their "chosen profession" because of unrealistic expectations balanced (not well) against support and materials. On the other hand, there are so many ready and willing graduates who would happily slip into new positions were they to be offered. Grads beware, open positions have been vacated by severely burnt out nurses with experience. Go in with eyes wide open and personal armor in place. Good luck.

Thank you, Ricu!