Getting started: Needs and preferences of Colorado faculty for graduate education in nursing

The projected shortage of nurses is greatly influenced by the shortage of nursing faculty. This is of significant concern in Colorado due to increasing requirements for master's-prepared instructors at all levels. While there are many reasons for the faculty shortage, this study looked specifically at the needs and preferences of current nursing instructors related to obtaining graduate education in nursing. The survey results paint a picture of nurse faculty who need new approaches to managing graduate course work in addition to teaching and family responsibilities. Help with expenses through grants, scholarships, and loan forgiveness is vital. Potential graduate students rarely consider full-time or on-campus study, instead favoring online, one-per-semester, year-round courses. They are concerned about practicum hours, less concerned about graduate-level academic work, and not very concerned about online methods. There were no evident differences in needs and preferences for further education based on rural/urban location or community college/university setting.