Nurses-to-Be Learn the Future of Healthcare
January 28, 2010 • By Danielle Strickler,
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HARRISONBURG, Va. — As the demand for nurses increases across the country, JMU’s competitive nursing department has tried to prepare more students for careers.
About 600,000 new nurses are needed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. This does not include the 500,000 positions that will open as baby boomers retire, added Dr. Merle Mast, head of JMU’s nursing department.
The nursing field allows good salaries, job security and varied but challenging career options, according to Mast.
“Good nurses think critically and respond effectively in complex situations,” Mast said. “They can make critical decisions and handle many responsibilities, and are concerned with the well-being of their patients.”
The number of applications to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program continues to grow at JMU; the program has nearly doubled since 2004. Previously, the program allowed 50 applicants a year, but now it accepts roughly 120 applications a year.
Nationally, more than 40,000 students are turned away, because schools and universities do not have the proper resources to take all the students, according to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Web site.
“I was really nervous when I applied, because there are a lot of people I know of that have not gotten into the program and have changed their whole career plans,” sophomore Stacy Hernandez said. “It is definitely very hard to get in to.” With the high demand for nurses, Mast explained that now students don’t always get their first-choice jobs.
“Because JMU’s nursing program has such a strong reputation, the employers really want our graduates,” Mast said.
The program has increased from 10 to 26 faculty members over the last 5 years. The student faculty ratio is 1:10, which is required by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Until the department has more resources to get the classroom space, faculty, and clinicals, the nursing program will be unable to accept more students, Mast said.
Students at JMU agree faculty members are committed and devoted to preparing the students to serve people by being an example.
“I respect the teachers and what they do to prepare us, and the program wouldn’t be what it is if it were not for the teachers,” junior Sally Eggman said.
She said she hasn’t noticed the nurse shortage, but at her clinical, there is about one nurse to five patients.
“Just seeing the amount of work and care they give to those patients is wonderful but also time consuming,” Eggman said. “I can’t imagine the impact that more patients would create, as say in a hospital setting, and I feel the care would decrease.”
According to junior Linn Guernsey, JMU prepares students well for finding a job. In one class, students create a resume and binder that demonstrate everything they have done at JMU, including a philosophy page highlighting their mission statement for being a nurse.
“For clinical, I have to work 12-hour shifts, much like what it would be like if I was in a hospital,” Guernsey said. “I really feel nursing is one of the most time- consuming majors JMU offers.”
The program at JMU offers an associate or baccalaureate program and students must pass the Nursing Certification and Licensure exam (NCLEX) to obtain a license. JMU also offers a one-year program for registered nurses who hold associate degrees to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Contact Danielle Strickler at turnerdj@jmu.edu
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5 Responses to “Nurses-to-Be Learn the Future of Healthcare”
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I am a Nursing Student at JMU, and we do not offer an associate degree program at JMU for nursing. You should get your facts straight before publishing
I was actually thinking of applying to the nursing program so I talked to the director and there is an associate degree offered. Maybe you should get your facts straight before you start being petty.
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Actually, there really is not an associate’s degree of nursing program offered at JMU. JMU offers the RN to BSN program for RN’s that might have completed an associate’s degree program.
JMU as a university requires the two full years of geneds and pre-requisites which is basically equivalent to a community college’s associate in science degree. On top of that the BSN program is another two full years of clinicals and classroom semesters.
I graduated from JMU’s nursing program in May ‘09. I applied to about 20 different positions across the country. Few even replied to say that they were inundated with applications from “new grads” and would not be able to review my resume. Between my junior and senior year of college I had an internship in New York, where I’m originally from. This was the only hospital I got an interview with, and thankfully I am now a part of Stony Brook University Medical Center’s nurse residency program. I would recommend to every nursing student to obtain an internship between their junior and senior year. After a year of experience I hope to apply to jobs in parts of the country I would prefer to be. I can’t complain, most people I graduated with (excluding nursing majors) don’t even have a job related to their major. I have a very competetive salary and am getting experience I need to go on and further my education with.
Hopefully the country will figure out a way to expand nursing schools. Although in nursing school I never had more than three patients to take care of at once it is not uncommon for me to have seven patients. I was hired with four other new grads to my unit so I have a lot of support, which has probably stopped me from losing it on certain nights. JMU definitely did an excellent job of preparing me for my career and I still have a great relationship with many of my professors.