This study examined the shortage of nurse faculty in one Midwestern state. The purpose of the study was to identify facilitators and barriers to recruiting and retaining nurse faculty. Case studies were conducted, with the primary data source being semi-structured interviews with deans and directors of six nursing programs that offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The interviews and a review of institutional artifacts informed the study.
Rich, descriptive data gathered in this study revealed strategies employed by deans and directors, as they struggled to recruit and retain faculty at a time of burgeoning demand for the education of nurses. The single most important barrier was the lack of nurse faculty holding doctorate degrees that would make them eligible for promotion and tenure in their institution. The lower nurse faculty salaries when compared to clinical nursing salaries were identified as a significant barrier to recruitment of faculty. As identified by the deans and directors, factors that facilitate recruiting and retention of nurse educators included the presence of supportive administrators and research agendas anchored in collaborative relationships with a local healthcare system.
The study affirmed prior research regarding the complexity of the issue and the need to identify successful practices, which will provide a long-term solution to the shortage of nurse faculty. The findings of this study provided guidance for deans and directors, as they work within their institution, to acquire the resources, including administrative support, for a comprehensive plan to address this shortage.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study examined the shortage of nurse faculty in one Midwestern state. The purpose of the study was to identify facilitators and barriers to recruiting and retaining nurse faculty. Case studies were conducted, with the primary data source being semi-structured interviews with deans and directors of six nursing programs that offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The interviews and a review of institutional artifacts informed the study.</p> <p>Rich, descriptive data gathered in this study revealed strategies employed by deans and directors, as they struggled to recruit and retain faculty at a time of burgeoning demand for the education of nurses. The single most important barrier was the lack of nurse faculty holding doctorate degrees that would make them eligible for promotion and tenure in their institution. The lower nurse faculty salaries when compared to clinical nursing salaries were identified as a significant barrier to recruitment of faculty. As identified by the deans and directors, factors that facilitate recruiting and retention of nurse educators included the presence of supportive administrators and research agendas anchored in collaborative relationships with a local healthcare system.</p> <p>The study affirmed prior research regarding the complexity of the issue and the need to identify successful practices, which will provide a long-term solution to the shortage of nurse faculty. The findings of this study provided guidance for deans and directors, as they work within their institution, to acquire the resources, including administrative support, for a comprehensive plan to address this shortage.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Fox, Diane Porretta"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Education (EdD)","degree_level":"Open Access Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Leadership and Counseling","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ronald Williamson, Ed.D., Chair","Jaclynn C. Tracy, Ph.D.","Deborah deLaski-Smith, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-02-12T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-02-12T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:57Z","subjects":["nursing schools","directors","educators","nurses","education","Nursing"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/605","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ronald Williamson, Ed.D., Chair","Jaclynn C. Tracy, Ph.D.","Deborah deLaski-Smith, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Fox, Diane Porretta"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-07-22T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Leadership and Counseling"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Education (EdD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["nursing schools","directors","educators","nurses","education","Nursing"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/605"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study examined the shortage of nurse faculty in one Midwestern state. The purpose of the study was to identify facilitators and barriers to recruiting and retaining nurse faculty. Case studies were conducted, with the primary data source being semi-structured interviews with deans and directors of six nursing programs that offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The interviews and a review of institutional artifacts informed the study.
Rich, descriptive data gathered in this study revealed strategies employed by deans and directors, as they struggled to recruit and retain faculty at a time of burgeoning demand for the education of nurses. The single most important barrier was the lack of nurse faculty holding doctorate degrees that would make them eligible for promotion and tenure in their institution. The lower nurse faculty salaries when compared to clinical nursing salaries were identified as a significant barrier to recruitment of faculty. As identified by the deans and directors, factors that facilitate recruiting and retention of nurse educators included the presence of supportive administrators and research agendas anchored in collaborative relationships with a local healthcare system.
The study affirmed prior research regarding the complexity of the issue and the need to identify successful practices, which will provide a long-term solution to the shortage of nurse faculty. The findings of this study provided guidance for deans and directors, as they work within their institution, to acquire the resources, including administrative support, for a comprehensive plan to address this shortage.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Nursing faculty shortages: Perspectives from deans and directors of BSN programs"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ronald Williamson, Ed.D., Chair","Jaclynn C. Tracy, Ph.D.","Deborah deLaski-Smith, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["Fox, Diane Porretta"],"dc:date.available":["2015-07-22T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study examined the shortage of nurse faculty in one Midwestern state. The purpose of the study was to identify facilitators and barriers to recruiting and retaining nurse faculty. Case studies were conducted, with the primary data source being semi-structured interviews with deans and directors of six nursing programs that offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The interviews and a review of institutional artifacts informed the study.
Rich, descriptive data gathered in this study revealed strategies employed by deans and directors, as they struggled to recruit and retain faculty at a time of burgeoning demand for the education of nurses. The single most important barrier was the lack of nurse faculty holding doctorate degrees that would make them eligible for promotion and tenure in their institution. The lower nurse faculty salaries when compared to clinical nursing salaries were identified as a significant barrier to recruitment of faculty. As identified by the deans and directors, factors that facilitate recruiting and retention of nurse educators included the presence of supportive administrators and research agendas anchored in collaborative relationships with a local healthcare system.
The study affirmed prior research regarding the complexity of the issue and the need to identify successful practices, which will provide a long-term solution to the shortage of nurse faculty. The findings of this study provided guidance for deans and directors, as they work within their institution, to acquire the resources, including administrative support, for a comprehensive plan to address this shortage.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/605"],"dc:subject":["nursing schools","directors","educators","nurses","education","Nursing"],"dc:title":["Nursing faculty shortages: Perspectives from deans and directors of BSN programs"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Leadership and Counseling"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Education (EdD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:57Z"}