As New York's health care industry continues to confront the repercussions of the pandemic, a subtle but potent issue has emerged: declining graduation rates among registered nurses (RNs). A recent revelation by the Center for Healthcare Workforce Studies at SUNY Albany has made it clear that new RN graduations have seen a 4% drop between 2021 and 2023. This dip in numbers comes on the heels of an increase in applications and acceptances to nursing programs, casting a perplexing shadow on the state's efforts to reinforce its strained nurse workforce.
In a comprehensive survey conducted across educational institutions, it became apparent that Long Island, Central New York, and the city were the areas most significantly impacted. Dr. Robert Martiniano, a SUNY Albany researcher who co-authored the report, suggests that the disruptions to traditional education programs during the pandemic could to an extent be the culprit for this decrease. Nursing programs faced unique challenges, particularly the lost access to clinical settings that are crucial for practical experience, as hospitals redirected efforts to battle Covid-19. The results of the survey were reported by Crain's New York Business.
Further complicating the issue is the shortage of nurse faculty. Reports indicate that as of 2023, one out of nine full-time nurse faculty positions remained vacant. This shortage is a result of a combination of recent retirements and less competitive faculty salaries compared to those offered to nurses in hospital management or bedside positions. The gap in nurse educators could pose challenges to scaling up the workforce despite the injection of funds from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has dedicated $646 million towards health care workforce development via a Medicaid pilot program known as the 1115 waiver.
The gravity of the situation extends beyond just a decline in graduates; it includes the harsh reality that numerous qualified applicants are being turned away due to insufficient resources, including faculty and clinical training slots. Russell Sage College, however, stands as an example of success amidst the trend, with its accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program reportedly drawing significant interest. "There was some great worry around the pandemic time that the students were not interested in nursing. There were a lot of challenges in the nursing field and still are, but we are seeing more interest now," Provost Theresa Hand said in an interview with Spectrum Local News. Her institution's program allows students to complete their degree in just 16 months, which caters to those who already possess a bachelor's degree in a related field.
While the nurse graduation rate concerns loom, over 80% of RN education program deans have started to recruit adjunct faculty to fill gaps, suggests the Spectrum Local News report. This action, among others, gives a glimmer of hope that the downward trend might soon be reversed. Indeed, with the persistent efforts to address the multiplicity of factors – from clinical sites to tuition aid – New York state's health care industry might yet see a resurgence in its capacity to train and graduate ready and able registered nurses.
