Last year, more than 900 prospective students applied to the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. The school was able to accept 88. School officials estimate that 640 of the rejected applicants were qualified. These rejections are unfortunate because the state’s nursing shortage is projected to reach 11,000 by 2010. It’s happening at nursing programs nationwide in large part because of a parallel shortage. There aren’t enough master’s- and doctorate-level nursing teachers. Without the teachers, we won’t get the nurses.

UConn and other public and private colleges are trying to meet the demand for nurses and teachers. UConn’s full-time accelerated master’s entry into nursing program has been approved for expansion to the Waterbury and Stamford campuses. The 11-month program is aimed at students who hold bachelor’s degrees or higher in fields other than nursing. Graduates get a certificate that allows them to take the nurses licensing exam in Connecticut and, with the proper grades, enroll in the master’s program in nursing at UConn. Read more