Does anyone know anything more about this story? http://www.newschannel10.com/story/1...am-put-on-hold

In the middle of a nursing shortage nationwide, one area nursing program has an issue they are hoping does not make the situation worse.

Right now, West Texas A&M University can not accept new nursing students into the undergraduate program.

That mandate was handed down by the State's Board of Nursing because a chunk of university's graduates failed to meet the state's testing requirements in licensing the past few years. The ruling will only be lifted when 80 percent of WT graduates pass the licensing exam on their first try. In 2008 and 2009, WT graduates just missed the mark with passing rates of 76 and 78 percent.

WT administrators say, they have worked to correct issues in their curriculum and are hoping the issue can be resolved this October.

"There is a nursing shortage, there are many counties medically under served, what we presented to the board is that we want to continue to be part of a group that provides quality health care in the Panhandle region." said Dr. Dirk Nelson, Dean of College of Nursing and Health Sciences at WTAMU.

The nursing program is still operating and a new class of students will start this August. Every year about 110 nurses enter the work force as recent WT graduates. If WT continues to not meet the state's requirement, that could affect the number of nurses in our area in the long run.

BSA hospital administrators feel, this is just a glitch the university has hit.

"The citizens of the Texas panhandle should know, we have great nursing programs in the area, WT is fixing the problem and we should continue to see great nurses coming out of there." said Mary Barlow with BSA Hospital.

According to the Texas Board of Nursing, WT's professional nursing program is one of two professional programs in the state with this predicament.