Each year, the Baltimore region?s 14 schools and colleges offering nursing courses turn away thousands of applicants ? and not because they are unqualified.
“It?s not a problem of recruiting; the real story is the lack of nurse faculty and space to put the students,” said Patricia Adams, spokeswoman for the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
Last month, the School of Nursing and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield joined forces to develop a new regional scholarship to promote graduate nursing education. An advanced degree qualifies graduates to teach nursing students at all levels. Dubbed Project RN, the program provides financial support to help students complete their degree within two years.
The current growth rate in the supply of nurses cannot meet the booming demand, according to the Maryland Hospital Association. The shortage in Maryland is projected to grow to 10,000 over the next 10 years.
MHA?s plan of attack calls for increasing nursing school seats by 1,800 first-year nursing students and training 360 additional faculty members at schools throughout the region. The state would chip in $34 million in the first year and $25 million in the second year, after which schools of nursing should be able to take over the cost of classrooms, nursing-education programs and faculty salaries.
While the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins focus on graduate-level courses ? teaching next year?s professors ? this fall the Maryland Higher Education Commission approved a new School of Nursing at Morgan State University.
The Health Services Cost Review Commission, the agency that sets rates hospitals may charge for care, has earmarked more than $10 million a year for the last 2 1/2 years to provide grants for nursing schools and scholarships for students. That program, which will last for 10 years, provides up to $50,000 in scholarships, living assistance and support for students who commit to work up to four years in the state.
“When you have the shortage that we do and you have the number of qualified candidates that have been turned away, it really is a statewide issue,” said Paula Fitzwater, director of the office of grants for the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
