Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114606

Patricia R. Lewis, PhD, RN¹, Kathleen A. Baldwin, PhD, RN², L. Michele Issel, PhD, RN³, and John W. Smith, MA². (1) Rockford Regional Program, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Highcrest Dr., Rockford, IL 61102, 815 395-5968, prlewis@uic.edu, (2) College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Peoria Campus, One Illini Drive, Peoria, IL 61656-1649, (3) School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2035 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612

The Bureau of Health Professionals projects a nursing shortage in Illinois of 19.5 % or 8,000 nurses by 2010, while this is less than the National projected shortage of 28.8% the trend is for the shortage to continue to grow. AACN reported in 2003 the 16.6% increase in enrollments into entry-level baccalaureate programs was not sufficient to meet the projected demand for nurses. To address this issue in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed dropping part of the licensing requirement for foreign nurses in hopes of luring them to Illinois. In 2004 34,244 internationally educated nurses took the NCLEX with a pass rate of 42% while US trained graduates attained an 82% pass rate. In order to avoid contributing to nursing shortages in other countries and address the Illinois shortage the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing (CON) has developed a graduate entry program (GEP) that allows students with non-nursing baccalaureates the opportunity to earn a graduate degree in nursing. The UIC CON has identified many individuals that have already earned a baccalaureate and possess a desire to enter into nursing and the GEP program fills a need for advanced nursing education. Graduates of the GEP will have the cultural competence skills and leadership abilities to provide the highest possible evidence based care. Thirty candidates began the first program in January 2005 and will have an intensive 14 months nursing education preparing them for the NXCLEX and then to enter a graduate program of their choice and specialty.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine the influx of foriegn trained nurses and the impact they are having on our nursing shortage and the shortage they are creating abroad.
• Measures that legislators are proposing to address the nursing shortage.
• Alternatives that may be used to recruit and train future nurses in the US. 4.

Keywords: Health Education Strategies, Nursing Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.