THE NEED FOR MASTER'S-PREPARED NURSES IN ILLINOIS (NURSING EDUCATION, STRATEGIC PLANNING).
Contributors: Illinois State University.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 192
Subjects: Education, Administration.; Education, Higher.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This study documented the unmet need for master's-prepared nurses in Illinois. Surveys were mailed to 601 health care providers and nursing education programs located in the nine Health Service Areas (HSAs) outside of Cook and DuPage Counties. Response rate was 82.7%.

In determining the nursing specialties most needed, the largest number of positions and vacancies were found to be in the category of "other," that is, in positions requiring a master's degree in nursing without stipulating a nursing specialty.

Over 70% of all reported vacancies were due to the lack of qualified candidates. Unfilled positions in 1992 were estimated to increase by 136% over 1991, with most of these projected to occur in HSA 2 (west central Illinois), HSA 4 (east central Illinois), HSA 8 (northeast Illinois), and HSA 5 (southern Illinois).

The average distance to a graduate nursing program for employers reporting vacancies was 50 miles. It was found that no graduate nursing programs were located in areas with the lowest percentage of employers budgeting positions for master's-prepared nurses. Employers had a tendency to not budget for such nurses if they did not feel such a nurse was available.

Limited data were received regarding starting salary ranges. However, of those reporting such data, a tendency was seen for employers with lower salaries to be unable to attract qualified candidates.

Conclusions of the study were two-fold. First, there was a documented unmet need for master's-prepared nurses in Illinois. Second, a need for improved accessibility of graduate nursing programs in Illinois was apparent.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-05, Section: A, page: 1358.

Thesis (PH.D.)--ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY, 1992.

School code: 0092.