THE MUSC COLLEGE OF NURSING:

FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE NURSING SHORTAGE

THE PROBLEM - THE FACTS

• 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.
• In South Carolina 45% of registered nurses come from other states.
• 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 

WHAT THE MUSC COLLEGE OF NURSING HAS DONE THUS FAR

• It has successfully raised $4 million from hospitals across the state to increase its enrollment.
• It has increased enrollment by 140% of the baccalaureate degree program in Charleston.
• It has placed its Master's and PhD degree nursing programs entirely online allowing nurses across the state, region and country to continue their nursing education.
• It is the only nursing program in SC that is a part of an academic health sciences center.
• It is the only 16 month accelerated nursing degree program in the state.
• It educates more masters and doctoral degree nurses than other similar sized universities.

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The MUSC College of Nursing is Fueling the Nurse Faculty Pipeline

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WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NEXT AT MUSC

• Funding is needed to increase faculty salaries.
• Allocations must be provided to hire new faculty.
• The existing CON building, which is 50 years old, must be renovated.
• 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 CON as a resource to the state, region and nation.