Nursing Programs Assist Local Hospitals

Corpus Christi-area hospital system has 3 colleges that supply sufficient no. of new graduates to meet the demand and to give solution to the national nursing shortage. Based from the report of Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, the requirements for full-time registered nurses in Texas in year 2008 surpass supply by 22,000. The vacancy rate of many hospitals is over 8 percent while the nationwide rate is 8.1 percent.

In March, the three major hospital systems in Corpus Christi had fewer than 80 openings for registered nurses and vacancy rates under 3 percent.  Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, and Beeville-based Coastal Bend College are the 3 institutions that train students to be registered nurses. In fact, 207 prospective RNs will be graduated in May. Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing are offered by A&M-Corpus Christi. While the associate’s degree leading to RNs and one-year licensed vocational nurse programs are offered by Del Mar and Coastal Bend. But the Christus Spohn Health System’s intervening staffing problem cannot be solved by the number of new graduates because it will fill 50 nurse positions from Beeville to Kingsville. Mary La Francois, the vice president of human resources said that they employ 30 to 60 new graduates every semester but at present, they are searching for qualified nurses in critical care. According to recruitment officials, 17 RNs are needed at Corpus Christi Medical Center and 10 RNs at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. It shows that 7,000 new RNs who took Texas programs graduated in 2007, which is 55% increase over the 4,500 products in 2001. But according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies, the increase is not adequate to un-bridge the gap which is anticipated to attain 70,000 statewide in year 2020.

According to Mary Jane Hamilton, Ph.D., R.N., dean and professor at the College of Nursing and Health Services at the university, the population of the students for the nursing program at A&M-CC has go up to 22% in 2008 and  almost 1,300 students in the Nursing and Health Services programs are still existing. When the $45 million building finally constructed by March 2010, the university will be able to accommodate more nursing students. Mr. Hamilton said that their projected plan is to have a 25% increase in 2009 class and 15% increase in 2010 class. The enrolment of Del Mar College programs has increased to 54% from 300 students in 2003 to 463 in 2008. Del Mar nursing department chairwoman Bertha Almendarez said that presently the college is experiencing a deficiency in different aspects: nursing shortage and shortage in nursing faculty. They can’t hire more faculties if the enrolment will not increase.

Betty Simms said that Coastal Bend College’s RN program started in September. And as expected, 7 students who took RN and licensed vocational nurse programs will graduate in May. The College will wait to produce 20-30 RNs in 2010. Similar to Del Mar, Coastal Bend College also finds it tough to employ sufficient number of instructors because they can’t meet the standard for salaries. So they can’t aspire for more enrolment. [via]