Accelerated second degree advanced practice nurses: how do they fare in the job market?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Advanced Practice Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• The demand for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) necessitates exploring alternative educational pathways.
• Accelerated, nontraditional nursing programs offer a route to increase the supply of APRNs.
• Second-degree, non-nurse college graduates represent a potential demographic for these programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To profile the demographic and job characteristics of graduates from accelerated, second-degree nursing programs.
• To understand the educational experiences and career trajectories of individuals transitioning into advanced practice nursing roles.
• To provide insights for nursing educators and healthcare administrators regarding recruitment and program planning.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study was conducted on graduates from an accelerated second-degree nursing program at Virginia Commonwealth University (1995-1999).
• Data were collected from 29 graduates, representing a 57% response rate.
• Key variables included demographics, previous education, income, nursing experience, scope of practice, and educational quality.

Main Results:

• The study identified key demographic and professional characteristics of this graduate cohort.
• Findings shed light on the factors influencing graduates' entry and experience in advanced practice roles.
• Analysis included graduate sex, age, income, prior education, nursing experience, role scope, and program quality.

Conclusions:

• Accelerated nursing programs successfully attract and educate individuals from diverse academic backgrounds into advanced practice roles.
• The findings have significant implications for designing and recruiting for future nursing education programs.
• Understanding graduate profiles can inform strategies to meet the growing demand for nurse practitioners.