By Amy Curtis | April 2024

In this issue:  Nursing school enrollment challenges nationally and in Kansas; Reports on environmental factors and nurse retention; April Research Committee recording

This newsletter is 1,183 words long, about a 4-minute read.

AACN information shows sustaining student enrollment a challenge

CHART SOURCE: Kansas Board of Regents data

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) released data that show declining student enrollment in baccalaureate and graduate programs continues to be a challenge in U.S. schools of nursing. Kansas nursing schools follow these findings.

According to Kansas Board of Regents data, in spite of an increase in the number of nursing seats in schools—and a clear need for more nurses—enrollments and degrees completed have fallen over the last ten years.

Kansas schools are graduating less than 10% of the projected need for Kansas nurses. This trend MUST be reversed.

The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center is collaborating with stakeholders to ensure just that.

Libby Rosen PhD, RN, IBCLC, Dean and Professor, Baker University School of Nursing, Stormont Vail Health Campus, and Center advisory board member said:

 “As a school which has openings, particularly for our spring cohorts, it was refreshing to see ideas about having centralized application opportunities for qualified applicants across the nation. As a member of the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board, I am hoping we can start the same for Kansas.”

Read the AACN report highlights.

Nurse workplace environments a top concern

According to a new study by University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR), the top factors for nurses ending health care employment between 2018 and 2021 were planned retirement (39% of nurses), burnout (26%), insufficient staffing (21%), and family obligations (18%). It should be noted that prior studies looked at intent to leave a job. The CHOPR study looked at the actual reasons WHY nurses left their job in healthcare during the study period.

The Emergency Nurses Association conducted a pulse check survey looking at workplace violence. They found that from Feb. 11 to March 11, 2024, fifty-six percent of emergency department nurses reported being assaulted while on the job.

Also published this month, the NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report details the cost of RN turnover. Their findings show that:

Why it matters: These reports and findings show that in order to address nurse retention and create systemic change, we must measure the things that matter, including the environments nurses work in.

Apply now for bigger loan forgiveness

National Health Service Corps loan repayment program will forgive bigger loan amounts. Applications are due May 9, 2024, 7:30p.m. ET.

Changes include:

Remember! Apply by May 9, 2024, 7:30p.m. ET.

Your Voice Matters: NCSBN survey underway! 

The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, is underway!

Nurses nationwide and in Kansas will be selected at random to participate in the survey. Those nurses who complete the survey will help us keep vital workforce issues at the forefront.

It is critical that Kansas nurses participate.

The information you share helps us inform the people making decisions about the Kansas nursing workforce.

About the 2024 Survey and Results

Catch up quick: April Research Committee Meeting

Watch a recording of the April Research Committee meeting where Dr. Barb Polivka shared her research project, which aims at improving safety for home healthcare workers with a virtual simulation training.

Next month we will hear from Dr. Aimee McDonald, Nurse Researcher at Kansas City VA Medical Center, about "Nursing research at the KCVA: Successes and opportunities identified."

Led by Shin Hye Park, PhD, RN, the Research Committee, facilitates and promotes collaborative nurse research activities across the state.

The committee's goal is to leverage research talent to better serve the healthcare community of Kansas, advance the field of nursing and healthcare and strengthen the nursing workforce in Kansas.

The next scheduled meeting is May 23, 2024 from 10-11 a.m.

You can sign up here to receive the meeting link. Please forward to colleagues who may also wish to attend.

Watch it now.

De-escalation class available at no cost

Learn how to implement de-escalation techniques with patients, review core CPI principles and techniques, and review actual patient care scenarios with the goal of providing feedback and counsel.

This presentation also reviews the fundamental components of assessing for signs of escalation, the critical importance of providing proactive interventions, and how we can best utilize verbal de-escalation techniques.

The Mental Health Education programs offered by The University of Kansas Health System have been accessed by more than 3,000 health system employees, facilities, and nursing schools nationally and internationally. These programs have been specifically designed to offer a foundational knowledge level on some of the most important mental health topics facing health care professionals today. All courses are free and virtual.

Nurses who want to access classes should follow these instructions.

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Catch up quick: You can always read our archives here:

Kansas Nursing Workforce Center is on the road

A big part of our collaboration strategy is to meet with and listen to stakeholders across Kansas. This month we’ve been on the road doing just that.

We attended and testified to the Contract Nursing Subcommittee on April 3 at the Capitol in Topeka. We encouraged committee members to consider the work environments of nurses.

On April 24 we attended the Kansas Midwives Stakeholder Meeting in Topeka to explore options for nurse midwives needing affordable insurance.

And on April 25 we presented the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center to the Kansas Organization of Nurse Leaders (KONL) at their spring meeting in Wichita. PhD student Seongmin Cho attended with us. KONL provides professional collaboration and fellowship opportunities to nurses at every level to help nurses lead.

In June we’ll be presenting at the National Forum of Nursing Workforce Centers Annual Conference. We are proud that five Kansas nurses and our biostatistician will be presenting. Kansas presentations include the value of nursing as well as new research findings about Patient Care Assistants and their intent to stay in their roles.

Would you like to collaborate? Let us know! We’re always looking for new opportunities to learn what is important to you.

Sincerely,

Amy Garcia and Barbara MacArthur

Kansas Nursing Workforce Center

What We’re Reading

Have Kansas Nursing Workforce news, solutions, or kudos you’d like us to share?
Email nursingwill@kumc.edu

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