UAlbany Report Identifies Barriers and Facilitators Shaping New York’s Nursing Pipeline
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 8, 2025) — In an era of significant nursing shortages, monitoring the registered nursing (RN) educational pipeline is essential, according to a recent report released by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences. The report is based on an annual survey of deans and directors of New York’s RN education programs to better understand trends in the production of RNs in the state and the availability of jobs upon graduation.
RN graduations in New York slightly declined, despite modest increases in applications and acceptances to RN education programs, between 2021 and 2023.
“The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on education, and nursing education was no exception,” said Robert Martiniano, senior program manager at the Center. “Classes moved to remote learning and clinical training was either delayed or canceled. Many nursing education programs used simulation to help their students obtain the required clinical skills.”
Faculty vacancies are another challenge to RN production that emerged during the pandemic, partially due to early retirements. The current study found that 1-in-9 full-time nursing faculty positions were vacant in 2023, and the vacancies were a key reason that both ADN and BSN programs turned away qualified applicants.
The report also discusses strategies for addressing vacant faculty positions, including adding more adjunct faculty and hiring baccalaureate-prepared RNs who were completing master’s degrees to fill full-time faculty positions.
Nursing Programs at UAlbany
To help meet the significant demand for qualified nurses in New York, UAlbany recently launched three new degree programs for nurses. These include a four-year “1+2+1” program offered in partnership with St. Peters Health Partners in which students simultaneously work toward two degrees: an Associate Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For existing nurses, there is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program and a Master of Science in Population Health Nursing.
“UAlbany is leading a transformative initiative to bolster nurse training and retention across New York,” said Cassandra Garhartt, director of nursing at UAlbany’s College of Integrated Health Sciences. “By establishing dynamic partnerships with local hospitals, UAlbany is launching cutting-edge nursing programs that integrate the latest best practices and innovations in health care. These new programs not only promise to equip novice nurses with advanced clinical skills and professional development but also aim to seamlessly integrate them into the workforce through enhanced, real-world training and support.
“This bold move represents a significant leap forward in addressing the nursing shortage and enhancing the quality of patient care statewide. I’m incredibly excited about the transformative impact our new initiatives will have on the nursing profession. These programs are designed to provide continuous development and support, empowering our nurses to excel and adapt in a rapidly evolving field. The future of nursing is bright, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this vital change."
The full report can be found on the Center for Health Workforce Studies website at www.chwsny.org.