| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | provide quality care in the region." In keeping with this |
| Usually, part-time nursing students are those who are | | | | daunting prospect, her association, the Coastal |
| interested in a nursing career but have other | | | | Georgia Nursing Consortium (CGNC) plans a news |
| responsibilities that interfere with their abilities to | | | | conference shortly to announce a special program on |
| attend regular classes. Of late, there has been a | | | | Nursing as a Second Career. |
| good rise in the number of part-time nursing students | | | | In most cases where aspirants have decided to opt |
| for a variety of reasons. Looking at the overall | | | | for nursing as their second career, it is seen that |
| scenario, it appears that the looming specter of | | | | they are already engaged in full-time jobs either in |
| nursing shortage is the common driving force behind | | | | healthcare industry or in a completely alien field. Such |
| large number of students opting for part-time | | | | career choosers are often reluctant to let go their |
| courses. | | | | employment and therefore likely to opt as part-time |
| As per February 2004 projections by the US Bureau | | | | nursing students. |
| of Labor Statistics, registered nurses (RNs) will top | | | | 2. Admission Problem As noted above, the rising |
| the list of 10 occupations that have the potential of | | | | trend of requirement of qualified nurses has not |
| the largest job growth in the years 2002-2012. It | | | | translated into matching availability of seats in nursing |
| bears recalling that RNs have listed among the top 10 | | | | institutes. This has meant that aspirants who would |
| growth occupations in the past, but for the first time | | | | have otherwise gone for full-time courses, have to |
| in recent history, RNs occupy the top rank. | | | | settle for part-time education in nursing. Since |
| BLS' 10-year projections are widely used in career | | | | scholarships and grants are usually less available for |
| guidance and come in handy for concerned institutes | | | | part-time students, they need to find jobs — |
| in planning education and training programs and also in | | | | often full-time jobs — to run their personal and |
| studying long-range employment trends. Thus, the | | | | education-related expenses. |
| BLS' report that more than 2.9 million RNs will be | | | | 3. Higher Degree When a sector undergoes a period |
| employed in the year 2012, up 623,000 from the | | | | of high demand, lots of churning takes place, many |
| nearly 2.3 million RNs employed in 2002 has meant | | | | of which act contrary to one another. The same |
| that many aspirants have now decided to study and | | | | thing is happening in the nursing sector. On one hand, |
| pursue a career in nursing. | | | | there is a shortage of sufficient nurse educators |
| Unfortunately, there has not been commensurate | | | | because of which nursing seats are not expanding. |
| increase in nurse educators as a result of which | | | | On the other, qualified nurses who are already |
| nursing institutes are unable to increase seats in | | | | working full-time albeit in lower ranks, are pushing to |
| regular courses. Seen in this backdrop, let us examine | | | | up their qualification to take advantage of empty |
| some common indicators behind the increase in | | | | positions in high-ranked jobs. |
| part-time nursing students. 1. Second Career It's true | | | | In a way, this is inevitable because people have it in |
| that the momentous events of 9/11 disaster have | | | | them to pursue higher goals, especially in situations |
| triggered a rush for second career in nursing, because | | | | that are now prevalent in nursing sector. On account |
| people want a job in which they can make a | | | | of this, full-time nurses in various categories and |
| difference in others' lives. But while this trend has | | | | disciplines are actively seeking to improve their |
| more or less ebbed over time, the popular choice of | | | | nursing degrees by enrolling in part-time courses. |
| nursing as second career continues to rise on account | | | | Many nursing institutes have come up with innovative |
| of projected shortage of nurses in the coming | | | | courses to cater to the long list of part-time nursing |
| decade. | | | | students who already have full-time jobs. Some |
| Helen Taggart, a professor of nursing at Armstrong | | | | examples are weekend courses, evening classes and |
| Atlantic State University, says, "A critical shortage of | | | | even distant coaching. It is expected that such |
| nurses is creating a crisis in healthcare that impacts | | | | facilities will continue to maintain an upward trend in |
| both the preparation of nurses and the ability to | | | | the foreseeable future. |