Who will educate our nurses? A strategy to address the nurse faculty shortage in New Jersey

Abstract

BackgroundThe nurse faculty shortage hampers the capacity of the nursing workforce to respond to the demands of the evolving health care system. As a strategy to address the shortage in New Jersey, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation implemented the New Jersey Nursing Initiative Faculty Preparation Program to prepare nurses for the faculty role. This article highlights program implementation successes and challenges, scholar and faculty perceptions of the program, and provides recommendations for others interested in preparing nurse faculty. MethodsThis evaluation uses data from scholar surveys and focus groups, interviews with grantees, and grantee reports. ResultsFindings suggest that a program that includes generous monetary support, socialization to the nurse faculty role, and formal education courses produces graduates who readily assume a faculty position and are committed to at least a part-time career in nursing education. ConclusionsThis evaluation emphasizes the need to carefully design programs that integrate faculty preparation and advanced clinical training.