Finding Solutions

South Carolina has a severe registered nurse shortage that will peak in 2020.
South Carolina has the 11th lowest RNs to population ratio in the U.S.
52% of registered nurses in South Carolina do not have a baccalaureate degree.
Virtually every hospital in South Carolina has unfilled vacancies for nurses.
Most nursing programs in South Carolina have unfilled vacancies for nurse faculty.
There are 400 new hospital beds in South Carolina due to open in the next few years with no realistic plan for nursing staff
In South Carolina 45% of registered nurses come from other states.

SOLUTIONS FROM THE MUSC COLLEGE OF NURSING

It has successfully raised $4 million from hospitals across the state to increase its enrollment.
It has doubled the enrollment of the baccalaureate degree program.
It has placed the majority of its nursing programs entirely online allowing nurses across the state, region and country to continue their nursing education. This includes its Master's and PhD Degree Nursing programs - which prepare future nurse faculty.
The MUSC CON is the only nursing program in the state that is a part of an academic health sciences center.
The MUSC CON is SC's only 16 month accelerated nursing degree program.
The MUSC CON educates more masters and doctoral degree nurses than other similar sized universities.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT AT MUSC

Funding is needed to increase faculty salaries.
Allocations must be provided to hire new faculty.
A new nursing building is needed to provide classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices to continue to increase enrollment in all nursing programs.
Scholarship monies need to be available to nurses who wish to further their education and become future nurse faculty.

RESOURCES REQUIRED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

Dedicated funding from the state to address existing needs.
Public and private partnerships to obtain ongoing resources to grow the MUSC CON as a resource to the state, region and nation.