Nursing program helps with need for more nurses

"Since our population is aging, baby boomers are getting older, people are living longer, there's just more of a need for nursing care," MSU Interm Chair for Wilson Nursing School Karen Polvado said.

For the fall semester Midwestern State university received more than 200 applications for the Wilson School of Nursing, but only accepted 109.

"We're able to pick the cream of the crop and not to say those who don't get offers wouldn't make good nurses, they probably would, but we're just at capacity," Polvado said.

Karen Polvado says one way to alleviate the shortage is to increase capacity at nursing schools. But more faculty and clinical sites are needed in order to do that.

One way MSU and Vernon College have found to increase clinical capacity is through the North Texas Regional Simulation Center. The manikins used at the center allow instructors to immerse students in a realistic situation where they're required to diagnose patient scenarios and develop skills needed in real world situations.

"That's really where nursing is headed in the future is simulation," Polvado said.  

MSU is also putting it's focus toward retention rates.

"To identify those at high risk that have other issues and to help them with additional resources to get them to stay," she said.

MSU and Vernon College have made the application process easier for students. They're part of the West Texas Nursing Education Portal Project which allows students to send one application to a central location instead of to individual schools. Officials say regionalizing the application process will help fill every available student slot and increase retention rates.

It's estimated in 2008 Texas was short 22,000 nurses.  If the trend continues, that number could reach 70,000 by 2020.