Identifying and Describing Nurse Faculty Workload Issues: A Looming Faculty Shortage

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Faculty Workforce Dynamics
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• The nursing faculty shortage poses a significant threat to current and future nursing education.
• Previous research highlights the need for strategies in recruitment, retention, and faculty development.
• Sustaining and stabilizing the existing nursing faculty is crucial to mitigate the shortage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors contributing to the critical shortage of nurse faculty.
• To identify and describe the workload experienced by nursing faculty.
• To examine the impact of retirement and other retention factors on the nursing faculty workforce.

Main Methods:

• A survey methodology was utilized to gather data.
• The survey focused on identifying and describing nurse faculty workload.
• The study assessed the influence of retirement and retention issues on faculty numbers.

Main Results:

• Findings indicate an aging and non-diverse nursing faculty population.
• Faculty workloads were found to be increased and highly variable.
• A lack of standardized methods for calculating faculty workload was identified.
• Increased workload is associated with a higher-than-projected rate of faculty considering retirement.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the nursing faculty shortage requires a focus on improving diversity within the faculty.
• Developing collaborative positions, such as joint appointments, is recommended.
• Clear identification and management of nursing faculty workload are essential strategies.