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STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN
REPORT ON THE STATUS OF
NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
IN PENNSYLVANIA
A Report on Data from Nursing Education
Program Annual Reports,
2003
Volume 2 - June, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1
METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................... 3
DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................... 4
SUMMARY OF DATA ANALYSES............................................................................. 5
1. Number and Distribution of Nursing Education Programs........................ 6
2. Nursing Education Program Student Enrollment and Faculty ................... 8
3. Nursing Education Program Faculty with Required Degrees .................. 12
4. Nursing Education Program Graduates................................................... 14
5. Student Attrition .................................................................................... 16
6. Clinical Practice Placements .................................................................. 19
7. Course Options ...................................................................................... 21
Endnotes..………………………………………………………………………………...25
Appendix 1: Survey Form for RN-BS and RN-AD Programs ..................................... 28
Appendix 2: Survey Form for RN-DIP Programs ....................................................... 33
Appendix 3: Survey Form for LPN Programs............................................................. 38
INTRODUCTION
Pennsylvania’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) is a comprehensive assessment of the
health status of Pennsylvanians. SHIP 2001-2005, released in July 2001, conducts a systematic
review of the factors which impact health status across six broad domains, referred to as
Categories for Health Action. Categories for Health Action include: Chronic Disease,
Communicable Disease, Family Health, Violence and Injury, Environmental Health, and Health
Service Delivery Systems. The latter category, Health Service Delivery Systems, impacts in one
way or another on nearly every other category. From public health, to primary care, to acute
care, to long term care and home health, a vigorous and robust health system is the backbone of
healthy individuals and healthy populations.
Similarly, the backbone of a health system is the health professionals who comprise it. SHIP
2001-2005 (p. 158) formally recognizes the importance of an adequate supply of health
professionals and the increased difficulty in recruiting and retaining certain types of health
professionals, and establishes formal goals and strategies to address shortages. The SHIP
proposes a strategy that the Department of Health collaborate with the Departments of State,
Aging, Labor and Industry, and Public Welfare, as well as health professional organizations and
other interested stakeholders to adequately assess the issues of supply, distribution, recruitment,
and retention of health care professionals, and to develop and recommend strategies to assure
that sufficient numbers of critical health professionals of all types are available in the future.
Accordingly, the Pennsylvania Department of Health convened a Health Professions Study
Group in January 2002, with the goal of developing an objective understanding of the supply and
distribution of the health care workforce in Pennsylvania, the impact and potential impact upon
our communities, and possible solutions to the emerging health care workforce shortage issue.
This group met initially as a whole, and later as a set of task forces. The group developed a
continuing dialogue among state agencies, employers, nursing leaders, academics, and others.
Since its inception, the Study Group has assisted the Department in focusing efforts to address
health professions employment.
As part of the activities of the Health Professions Study Group, staff from the Department of
Health and the Department of State began discussion on the nature and scope of data available
through the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs to determine
its usefulness to the Study Group. The Department of State, Bureau of Professional and
Occupational Affairs, State Board of Nursing is responsible for administering the professional
and vocational standards of Title 49, Chapter 21 of the Pennsylvania Code to ensure safe nursing
services for the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The Board’s responsibilities include:1
• establishing “safe standards for the preparation of registered and practical nurses in approved
educational programs”; and
• assuring “safe standards of nursing practice through examination and licensure of graduates
of approved educational programs, through endorsement of registered and practical nurses
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -1- June 2004
from other jurisdictions, and through the regulation of the practice of nursing in this
Commonwealth.”
In order to fulfill the responsibilities according to statutory authority,2 the State Board of Nursing
collects demographic and regulatory compliance data from the Commonwealth’s nurse education
programs. These nurse education programs include baccalaureate (RN-BS), hospital-based
diploma (RN-DIP) and associate degree (RN-AD) programs for registered nurses and
community college, hospital, and vocational-educational programs for practical nurses (LPN).
The source of information for data included in this report is the Professional / Practical
Nursing Education Program Annual Report (Appendix 1-3), which is mailed annually in
August to pre-licensure nursing education programs and is due in October. The Annual Report
collects demographic and statistical information of pre-licensure nursing education programs in
Pennsylvania. Through the report, the Board of Nursing collects information on each program
including number of faculty, faculty changes, number of faculty with required degrees by
regulation, number of available refresher courses and satellite campuses, number of credits
required by the program, student enrollment, and graduation. Table 1 shows the number of
responses provided to the Department of Health for analysis. Since the Annual Report is
completed by all RN and LPN programs approved in Pennsylvania, it is an excellent source of
trend information regarding basic nursing education. In collaboration with the Department, the
Board of Nursing modified this report for the 2003 reporting period to include questions which
were previously collected only in the Approved Nursing Education Compliance Report. The
Compliance Report is mailed annually to a third of these nursing education programs that are
accredited by a nationally recognized entity approved by the Board of Nursing, as a replacement
for survey visits required by statute, so that at the end of every three years, all qualifying
programs have submitted a report. As a result, data presented in this report may be substantially
more complete than in the previously published report, State Health Improvement Plan Report
on the Status of Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania, A Report on Data from Nursing,
Education Program Annual Reports 1999-2002 and Approved Nursing Program Compliance
Reports, 2000-2002, which was released in April 2003.
The Department of Health recognizes that objective data is crucial to understand the status of the
health care workforce, and is committed to continuing its collaboration with the State Board of
Nursing on the collection and analysis of data. This report is the second in a series intended to
present data on nursing education programs – data that profoundly influence the supply side of
the nursing workforce.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -2- June 2004
METHODOLOGY
The data on nursing education programs were collected from the 2003 Professional / Practical
Nursing Education Program Annual Reports, and compared to previously available Annual
Report data when appropriate. Annual Reports have been submitted by 120 or more programs
annually for the last 5 years. Table 1 indicates the number of programs that submitted the
Annual Reports reviewed by the Department of Health. The information in this Report is based
on these numbers of the programs unless specified otherwise.
The data are collected via a self-report questionnaire, thus the information recorded on the
reports may be subjective. Inconsistent and/or incomplete data may appear due to the
availability of the requested data at the time the report is due or because of changes occurring in
the program. For example, a nurse education program may be going through a period of
expansion, closure, or merger of controlling institutions, and this will affect how program
numbers, options, admissions, attrition and other information are recorded. Completeness of the
data was a factor in the creation of a number of tables in this report. Table notes indicate how
programs may have been excluded in data calculations because of incomplete or missing data.
Table 1
Pennsylvania Nursing Education Programs,
Number of Annual Reports Reviewed,
1999-2003
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
RN-BS 32 33 34 33 33
RN-DIP* 25 24 24 23 23
RN-AD 22 22 22 22 22
Total RN 79 79 80 78 78
LPN 46 47 46 42 48
Total RN and LPN 125 126 126 120 126
* There were 22 RN-DIP programs in 2003. One program submitted
two separate reports for two program sites. The data in this Report
were based on 23 program reports submitted by 22 programs.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -3- June 2004
DEFINITIONS
The Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted the Professional Nursing Law and the Practical
Nurse Law, which established standards for nursing schools, the conduct of nursing programs,
education of professional and practical nurses and the practice of professional and practical
nursing. The laws established the following definitions of the practice of professional nursing
(Registered Nurse) and the practice of practical nursing (Licensed Practical Nurse).
The Practice of Professional Nursing (Registered Nurse): Diagnosing and treating human
responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health
teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-
being, and executing medical regimens as prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist.3
The Practice of Practical Nursing (Licensed Practical Nurse): The performance of selected
nursing acts in the care of the ill, injured or infirm under the direction of a licensed professional
nurse, a licensed physician or a licensed dentist which do not require the specialized skill,
judgment and knowledge required in professional nursing.4
In addition, the Pennsylvania Code, under Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards,
charged the State Board of Nursing to establish safe standards for the preparation of registered
and practical nurses in approved educational programs.5 The information presented in this report
is categorized by four basic types of nursing education programs:
RN Baccalaureate program (RN-BS): Four-year college degree program of nursing developed
under the authority of a regionally accredited university or college.
RN Hospital-based diploma program (RN-DIP): Two to three-year nursing diploma program
developed under the authority of a hospital accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Healthcare Organizations.
RN Associate program (RN-AD): Two-year college degree program of nursing developed
under the authority of a regionally accredited university or college.
Licensed Practical Nursing program (LPN): A program for the education of practical nurses
developed under the authority of a hospital, educational institution or combination thereof.6
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -4- June 2004
SUMMARY OF
DATA ANALYSES
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -5- June 2004
1. Number and Distribution of Nursing Education Programs
• As of October 1, 2003, there were 125 nursing education programs in Pennsylvania:7
- 33 RN-BS programs
- 22 RN-DIP programs
- 22 RN-AD programs
- 48 LPN programs
• Twenty (20) counties do not have either practical nursing or registered nursing programs.
Nineteen (19) of these counties are defined as rural by the 1990 Census definition.8
• Philadelphia County has the largest number of nursing programs with 16, followed by
Allegheny County with 14.
• Approximately 17%of RN programs and 38% of LPN programs are located in rural counties.
• Between 1995 and 2003, the number of overall nursing education programs in Pennsylvania
decreased from 134 to 125. The total RN programs decreased from 84 to 77, while the
number of LPN programs decreased from 50 to 48.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -6- June 2004
Figure 1: Nursing Education Programs, Pennsylvania, 2003
ERIE
WARREN MCKEAN POTTER TIOGA BRADFORD SUSQUEHANNA
WAYNE
CRAWFORD
FOREST WYOMING
VENANGO ELK CAMERON SULLIVAN LACKAWANNA
MERCER CLINTON LYCOMING PIKE
LUZERNE
CLARION
JEFFERSON COLUMBIA MONROE
LAWRENCE CLEARFIELD MONTOUR
UNION
BUTLER CENTRE CARBON
NORTHUMBERLAND
ARMSTRONG SNYDER
SCHUYLKILL
BEAVER MIFFLIN NORTHAMPTON
INDIANA LEHIGH
JUNIATA
ALLEGHENY CAMBRIA BLAIR PERRY
DAUPHIN BERKS BUCKS
HUNTINGDON LEBANON
WESTMORELAND
WASHINGTON CUMBERLAND MONTGOMERY
FULT ON LANCASTER
FAYETTE SOMERSET BEDFORD CHESTER PHILADELPHIA
DELAWARE
GREENE FRANKLIN ADAMS YORK
RN-BS Programs RN-DIP Programs RN- AD Programs LPN Programs
Urban counties based on 1990 Census definition
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, State Board of
Nursing.
Table 2
Number of Nursing Education Programs by Program Type,
Pennsylvania, 1995-2003
Program Type 1995* 1996* 1997 1998 1999* 2000 2001 2002 2003**
RN
RN-BS 30 31 31 31 32 33 34 33 33
RN-DIP 30 30 28 26 25 24 24 23 22
RN-AD 24 23 23 22 22 22 22 22 22
Total 84 84 82 79 79 79 80 78 77
LPN
Community College 7 7 7 7 7 7 9 8 10
Hospital-Based 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 3
Vo-Tech School 41 41 40 38 36 37 34 32 35
Total 50 50 49 47 45 47 46 42 48
* Changes to previously published data in the April 2003 Report on the Status of Nursing Education Programs in
Pennsylvania reflect updated data provided by the State Board of Nursing.
** There were 22 RN-DIP programs in 2003. One program submitted two separate reports for two program sites.
The data in this Report were based on 23 program reports submitted by 22 programs.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -7- June 2004
2. Nursing Education Program Student Enrollment and Faculty
• After a slight decline between 1999 and 2000, total enrollment in all four types of nursing
education programs increased between 2000 and 2003 (Table 3).
• The total number of students enrolled in professional nursing programs increased by 59%
from 9,859 to 15,651 between 1999 and 2003.
• The total number of students enrolled in practical nursing programs increased by 63% from
1,704 to 2,772 between 1999 and 2003.
• The total number of faculty employed in nursing education programs in Pennsylvania
increased by 36% from 1,445 to 1,961 in RN programs, and by 127% from 240 to 544 in
LPN programs, between 1999 and 2003.
• Numbers of part-time faculty increased proportionally more than full-time faculty; the
number roughly doubled in RN-DIP and RN-AD programs, and tripled in LPN programs.
• Student-faculty ratios increased in RN-BS, RN-DIP, and RN-AD programs between 2000
and 2003. The ratio decreased for LPN programs in 2003 due to increased number of faculty
employed in the programs.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -8- June 2004
Table 3
Nursing Education Program Enrollment, Faculty, and
Student Faculty Ratio, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
Number Enrolled Faculty Student Faculty Ratio
Program Full-Time Part-Time Full- Part-
Type Year Program Program Total Time Time Total Unweighted Weighted*
RN-BS 1999 4,307 608 4,915 496 277 773 6.4:1 7.3:1
2000 4,309 339 4,648 532 320 852 5.5:1 6.5:1
2001 4,422 493 4,915 517 300 817 6.0:1 7.0:1
2002 5,085 579 5,664 518 327 845 6.7:1 9.2:1
2003 6,767 710 7,477 515 462 977 7.7:1 9.5:1
RN-DIP 1999 1,730 140 1,870 224 43 267 7.0:1 7.3:1
2000 1,571 155 1,726 200 44 244 7.1:1 7.4:1
2001 1,900 167 2,067 211 44 255 8.1:1 8.5:1
2002 2,358 295 2,653 234 61 295 9.0:1 9.5:1
2003 2,510 355 2,833 252 83 335 8.6:1 9.5:1
RN-AD 1999 2,333 741 3,074 221 184 405 7.6:1 8.6:1
2000 2,336 622 2,958 202 199 401 7.4:1 8.8:1
2001 2,827 589 3,416 228 242 470 7.3:1 8.9:1
2002 3,160 1,102 4,262 236 351 587 7.3:1 9.0:1
2003 2,803 1,691 5,341 268 381 649 8.2:1 9.8:1
LPN 1999 1,516 188 1,704 129 111 240 7.1:1 8.7:1
2000 1,402 123 1,525 130 97 227 6.7:1 8.2:1
2001 2,290 203 2,493 165 185 350 7.1:1 9.3:1
2002 2,106 405 2,511 142 174 316 7.9:1 10.1:1
2003 2,254 494 2,772 202 342 544 5.1:1 8.7:1
* In calculating the weighted student faculty ratio, part-time students and part-time faculty are both weighed as
0.5 x full-time student or faculty.
** In some cases, a breakdown of full- and part-time students and faculty was not available from every
program. Where this occurred, those programs were not included in the calculation of the weighted
student faculty ratio.
Figure 2 Figure 3
Pennsylvania LPN Education Program Pennsylvania RN Education Program
Enrollments, 1999-2003 Enrollments, 1999-2003
3,000 20,000
2,500
Enrollment
15,000
Enrollment
2,000
10,000
1,500
1,000 5,000
500 0
0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
RN-BS RN-DIP RN-AD RN-Total
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania -9- June 2004
• While RN-BS and RN-DIP programs continue to depend on full-time faculty, RN-AD and
LPN programs have shifted to part-time faculty (Table 4).
• Faculty sizes are increasing for all types of programs, with the largest increases in part-time
faculty.
• Between 1999 and 2003, the number of part-time faculty increased by 67% in RN-BS
programs, while the numbers roughly doubled in RN-DIP and RN-AD programs and tripled
in LPN programs.
• Since 1999, the number of newly hired part-time nursing education faculty has significantly
exceeded those hired as full-time with the exception of RN-DIP programs. In 2003, the
newly hired part-time faculty was four times more than newly hired full-time faculty in RN-
BS, RN-AD and LPN programs.
• The full-time/part-time faculty ratios decreased between 1999 and 2003 in every category of
nursing program. This indicates that the nursing programs are becoming more reliant on
part-time faculty.
• The full-time/part-time faculty ratio is higher for RN-DIP programs compared to the other
programs, indicating that the RN-DIP programs are utilizing more full-time faculty than
other programs.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 10 - June 2004
Table 4
Nursing Program Faculty Size and Changes, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
Total Newly Left Turnover
Faculty Hired Employment Rate**
Program Full- Part - FT/PT Full- Part- Full- Part- Full- Part-
Type Year Time Time Ratio Time Time Time Time Time Time
RN-BS 1999 496 277 1.8 42 87 54 67 11% 24%
2000 532 320 1.7 33 111 45 79 8% 25%
2001 517 300 1.7 52 109 46 73 9% 24%
2002 518 327 1.6 63 139 53 73 10% 22%
2003 515 462 1.1 63 277 37 51 7% 11%
RN-DIP 1999 224 43 5.2 15 6 25 13 11% 30%
2000 200 44 4.5 32 15 30 6 14% 14%
2001 211 44 4.8 50 12 37 10 18% 5%
2002 234 61 3.8 67 32 36 12 15% 20%
2003 252 83 3.0 54 35 32 10 13% 12%
RN-AD 1999 221 184 1.2 8 50 11 40 5% 22%
2000 202 199 1.0 14 61 21 32 10% 16%
2001 228 242 0.9 18 95 14 30 6% 12%
2002 236 351 0.7 34 127 17 62 7% 18%
2003 268 381 0.7 53 214 19 78 7% 20%
LPN 1999 129 111 1.2 10 35 10 35 8% 32%
2000 130 97 1.3 8 40 15 28 12% 29%
2001 165 185 0.9 13 76 17 24 10% 13%
2002 142 174 0.8 28 100 15 36 11% 21%
2003 202 342 0.6 38 160 22 47 11% 15%
* FT=Full-time faculty; PT=Part-time faculty; FT/PT Ratio = FT faculty divided by PT faculty.
**Turnover Rate = Faculty who left employment divided by total faculty x 100.
Table 5
Additional Faculty Required to Serve 1,000 Additional Students
Based on 2003 Student-Faculty Weighted Ratios
Part- Part- Student/ New
Program Full-Time Time Full-Time Time Faculty Faculty
Type Students Students Faculty Faculty Ratio Required
RN-BS 6,767 710 515 462 9.5 131
RN-DIP 2,510 355 252 83 9.5 117
RN-AD 2,803 1,691 268 381 9.8 144
LPN 2,254 494 202 342 8.7 152
* In calculating the weighted student faculty ratio, part-time students and part-time faculty are both
weighed as 0.5 x full-time student or faculty. In some cases, a breakdown of full- and part-time students
and faculty was not available from every program. Where this occurred, those programs were not included
in the calculation of the weighted student faculty ratio. Refer to Table 3.
The Student/Faculty Ratio is calculated by dividing the weighted number of students by the weighted
number of faculty members. S(weighted)/F(weighted)=R. The number of new faculty is determined by
solving this equation for faculty using 1000 additional students; F(new)=1000/R.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 11 - June 2004
3. Nursing Education Program Faculty with Required Degrees
• The percentage of full-time faculty with required degrees reported in 2003 ranged from
89.3% for RN-DIP programs to 99.6% for RN-BS programs.
• The percentage of total faculty with required degrees generally decreased in all nursing
programs between 1999 and 2003. The most significant change in the percentage of faculty
with required degrees was observed in RN-AD programs, dropping from 83.0% in 1999 to
65.9% in 2003.
• Overall, the percentages of part-time faculty with required degrees were significantly lower
than those of full-time faculty with required degrees.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 12 - June 2004
Table 6
Nursing Education Program Numbers and Percentages of Faculty with
Required Degrees,* Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
Full-Time Faculty Part-Time Faculty Total Faculty
% of % of % of
With Faculty With Faculty With Faculty
Program Year Required with Required with Required with
Type ** Total Degree Degree Total Degree Degree Total Degree Degree
RN-BS 1999 496 493 99.4% 277 258 93.1% 773 751 97.2%
2000 532 514 99.2% 320 304 96.8% 852 818 98.3%
2001 517 508 98.3% 300 279 93.0% 817 787 96.3%
2002 518 496 95.8% 327 279 85.3% 845 775 91.7%
2003 515 513 99.6% 462 389 84.2% 977 902 92.3%
RN-DIP 1999 224 217 96.9% 43 40 93.0% 267 257 96.3%
2000 200 170 95.3% 44 36 86.7% 244 206 94.0%
2001 211 189 89.6% 44 37 84.1% 255 226 88.6%
2002 234 218 93.2% 61 44 72.1% 295 262 88.8%
2003 252 225 89.3% 83 56 67.5% 335 281 83.9%
RN-AD 1999 221 220 99.5% 184 116 63.0% 405 336 83.0%
2000 202 173 99.4% 199 117 90.0% 401 290 95.2%
2001 228 224 98.2% 242 144 59.5% 470 368 78.3%
2002 236 231 97.9% 351 181 51.6% 587 412 70.2%
2003 268 257 95.9% 381 171 44.9% 649 428 65.9%
LPN 1999 129 123 95.3% 111 88 79.3% 240 211 87.9%
2000 130 127 97.7% 97 88 90.7% 227 215 94.7%
2001 165 163 98.8% 185 133 71.9% 350 296 84.6%
2002 142 134 94.4% 174 140 80.5% 316 274 86.7%
2003 202 195 96.5% 342 283 82.7% 544 478 87.9%
* Required degree refers to Master or Doctoral level degree for RN programs, and to a Bachelor’s degree or
higher for LPN programs.
** Data for 1999 RN-DIP program and for all three RN programs in 2000 is incomplete. Percentages were
calculated using only those schools with complete data.
Figure 4
Nursing Education Program Percentages of Faculty with
Required Degrees, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
RN-BS RN-DIP RN-AD LPN
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 13 - June 2004
4. Nursing Education Program Graduates
• The total number of nursing school graduates dropped sharply from 1995 to 1999, then only
declined slightly between 1999 and 2002. Between 2002 and 2003, the numbers increased
with the exception of RN-BS programs, which showed a slight decrease.
• RN-DIP programs produce fewer graduates than all other programs.
• The majority of RN program graduates completed either RN-BS or RN-AD programs
between 1995 and 2003. The percentage of RNs graduating from RN-AD programs
increased from 37% in 1995 to 45% in 2003, while RNs graduating from RN-BS programs
decreased from 36% to 33%.
• Among all graduating nurses, the graduates of LPN programs increased from 28% in 1995
to 34% in 2003.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 14 - June 2004
Table 7
Nursing Education Program Graduation,
Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
2004
Program 1995 1996* 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Estimate
RN-BS 2,181 N/A 2,142 1,827 1,464 1,147 1,115 1,190 1,158 1,677
RN-DIP 1,614 N/A 1,142 915 780 660 606 588 747 1,075
RN-AD 2,213 N/A 1,838 1,424 1,190 1,111 1,098 1,161 1,559 2,133
RN-Total 6,008 N/A 5,122 4,166 3,434 2,918 2,819 2,939 3,464 4,885
LPN 2,295 N/A 1,731 1,448 1,313 1,121 1,116 1,236 1,790 2,144
* N/A = No data available for 1996.
Figure 5
Trends in Nursing School Graduates
by Program Type, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003, and 2004 Estimate
2,500
Number of Graduates
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Estimate
RN-BS RN-DIP RN-AD LPN
Table 8
Replacement Rate: Ratio of New Admissions to Graduates,
Pennsylvania 1997-2002
Type 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
RN
RN-BS 61.6% 64.2% 77.4% 106.5% 112.9% 130.9%
RN-DIP 66.1% 83.9% 120.3% 132.6% 143.4% 195.7%
RN-AD 83.8% 104.8% 116.0% 119.5% 140.4% 154.5%
Total 70.6% 82.4% 100.5% 117.4% 130.2% 153.2%
LPN
CCH 119.1% 143.7% 143.2% 351.2% 269.2% 328.0%
Vo-Tech 74.4% 75.7% 83.2% 119.6% 142.8% 131.7%
Total 81.7% 85.1% 91.9% 145.0% 163.4% 160.6%
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 15 - June 2004
5. Student Attrition
While many students who are admitted to nursing education programs successfully complete the
programs, some do not. When students leave a program before graduation, it is known as
attrition.
At the request of the Department of Health, the Department of State initiated the collection of
attrition data on the Nursing Program Annual Reports in 2003. Each nursing program is asked to
provide attrition numbers for the previous three years. Table 9 shows the number of program
responses in the four nursing program categories, and Table 10 shows the attrition data provided
by these programs. The percentages in Table 10 indicate the total attrition rate for the classes of
that specific year.
Table 9
Number of Nursing Education Programs Responses on
Attrition by Year of Admissions, Pennsylvania, 2000-2003
Total 2000 2001 2002 2003
RN-BS 34 27 27 28 29
RN-DIP 25 22 22 22 23
RN-AD 23 18 20 17 17
LPN 48 37 40 40 40
• RN-BS programs maintained the lowest attrition rates between the years of 2000 and 2003.
• The attrition rates generally decreased during the four years between 2000 and 2003.
• Fifty percent of all attrition was due to academic failure. RN-AD and RN-DIP programs had
the highest attrition due to academic failure at 63% and 57%, respectively.
• A change in career goals or career was a significantly higher reported reason for attrition in
RN-BS programs.
• About 25% of all students who left the nursing education programs were later re-admitted.
• Re-admission rates of students who left RN-BS programs before graduation are generally
lower than for students who left other nursing programs.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 16 - June 2004
Table 10
Nursing Education Programs Attrition by Responding Program,
Pennsylvania, 2000-2003
2000 2001 2002 2003 Total
RN-BS 260 (25%) 246 (22%) 325 (25%) 234 (16%) 1,065 (22%)
RN-DIP 363 (39%) 351 (41%) 345 (40%) 425 (37%) 1,484 (39%)
RN-AD 451 (35%) 451 (37%) 463 (34%) 481 (30%) 1,846 (34%)
RN Total 1,074 (33%) 1,048 (33%) 1,133 (32%) 1,140 (27%) 4,395 (31%)
LPN 508 (36%) 559 (35%) 631 (31%) 507 (25%) 2,205 (31%)
Total 1,582 (34%) 1,607 (33%) 1,764 (32%) 1,647 (27%) 6,600 (31%)
Table 11
Nursing Education Program Reasons for Student Attrition
By Responding Programs, Pennsylvania, 2000-2003
RN-BS RN-DIP RN-AD LPN Combined
Academic Failure 38% 57% 63% 43% 50%
Financial 3% 5% 5% 6% 5%
Change in Career Goals/Career 38% 13% 13% 16% 18%
Health 2% 5% 4% 10% 6%
Relocation 7% 2% 2% 2% 3%
Other 12% 19% 12% 24% 18%
Figure 6 Figure 7
Nurse Education Program Attrition Rate Percent of Students Re-Admitted to Nurse
by Program Type, Pennsylvania, Education Programs by Program Type and
2000-2003 Class Year, Pennsylvania, 2000-2003
45% 35%
40% 30%
35% 25%
30%
20%
25%
15%
20%
15% 10%
10% 5%
5% 0%
0% 2000 2001 2002 2003
2000 2001 2002 2003
RN-BS RN-DIP RN-AD LPN
RN-BS RN-DIP RN-AD LPN
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 17 - June 2004
Table 12
Numbers and Percentages of Re-Admissions to Nursing Education
Programs, Pennsylvania, 2000-2003
2000 2001 2002 2003
RN-BS 26 (11%) 29 (14%) 22 (9%) 36 (17%)
RN-DIP 68 (23%) 81 (28%) 77 (25%) 130 (40%)
RN-AD 95 (26%) 112 (28%) 117 (28%) 123 (27%)
RN Total 189 (21%) 222 (25%) 216 (22%) 289 (29%)
LPN 97 (19%) 117 (21%) 129 (20%) 94 (19%)
Total 286 (21%) 339 (24%) 345 (22%) 383 (26%)
The percentages were calculated as the total student number who were re-admitted divided by the total
number of students who left without graduating.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 18 - June 2004
6. Clinical Practice Placements
The Pennsylvania Code, Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards, allows nursing education
programs to establish agreements with state- or nationally-approved agencies to meet curriculum
objectives.9 For their nursing students to gain clinical experiences, nursing education programs
often establish cooperative agreements with health care providers or facilities. These agreements
are intended to assure the quality and variety of resources for students’ planned learning
experiences are available.
Clinical practice placements are an integral part of nursing education. For that reason, along
with the questions regarding student attrition, the Department of Health requested the
Department of State to include questions on clinical practice placements in the Nursing Program
Annual Reports. Starting in 2003, the Nursing Education Program Annual Report asked the
following questions regarding the clinical placement practice:
Has the program experienced any difficulty in obtaining clinical sites for student
experience?
If “yes,” for which areas of clinical practice has your program experienced the most
difficulty?
What do you believe to be the factor(s) contributing to difficulty in obtaining clinical sites
for student learning experiences? Please rank your responses from 1 to 6 with 1 being
the most significant factor.
The following results were drawn from the responses from these questions.
• Seventy percent of RN-BS and 68% of RN-AD programs indicated difficulty in obtaining
clinical sites for student experience, while 28% of RN-DIP and 52% of LPN programs
indicated difficulty.
• As indicated in Table 13, the area of most difficulty for finding clinical placements was
pediatrics, followed by obstetrics, psychiatry, and community health programs.
• Overuse of facility was rated the most significant factor contributing to difficulty in obtaining
clinical sites, followed by decreased census or length of patient stay, and closure/downsizing
of clinical units.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 19 - June 2004
Table 13
Number and Percentage of Nursing Education Programs Which Indicated Difficulties in
Obtaining Clinical Sites for Student Experience by Areas of Clinical Practice,
Pennsylvania, 2003
Numbers of
Programs with Medical- Community Critical
Difficulty Obstetrics Pediatrics Psychiatry Surgical Health Care
RN-BS 23 (70%) 15 (65%) 17 (74%) 6 (26%) 2 (9%) 7 (30%) 1 (4%)
RN-DIP 7 (30%) 3 (43%) 3 (43%) 1 (14%) 0 (0%) 2 (29%) 0 (0%)
RN-AD 15 (68%) 8 (53%) 12 (80%) 5 (33%) 2 (13%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%)
LPN 25 (52%) 13 (52%) 22 (88%) 4 (16%) 6 (24%) 1 (4%) 0 (0%)
Table 14
RN Education Programs Average Credit Requirement
by Program, Pennsylvania, 2003
Programs which Nursing Non-Nursing Credits to
provided data Credit Credits Graduate
RN-BS 31 programs 59.5 68.0 127.5
RN-DIP*** 23 programs 56.7* 31.7 31.7+**
RN-AD 21 programs 35.5 33.3 68.8
*Academic institutions, such as colleges and universities, use credits to measure academic study.
For example, a three-credit course usually indicates that the class will meet approximately three
hours a week for a specified period of time over an academic term. Because RN diploma
programs are hospital-based, rather than college/university-based, the credit value assigned to
study is more appropriately called a credit equivalency. Nursing credit for RN-DIP equals credit
equivalency assigned to nursing courses for grading and/or financial aid purposes only.
** Credits to graduate equals nursing credit equivalency (56.7) plus the non-nursing credit values.
*** The data are based on 23 Reports submitted by 22 RN-DIP programs.
Table 15
LPN Education Programs Average Curriculum Hour Requirement,
Pennsylvania, 2003
Programs which provided data Theory Hours Clinical Hours Hours to Graduate
42 programs 690.8 860.1 1,550.9
Table 16
Relative Weight of Factors Assigned by Nursing Schools
Contributing to the Difficulty in Obtaining Clinical Sites by
Program Type, Pennsylvania, 2003
Closure/ Decreased
Downsizing Census or Insufficient
of Clinical Length of Staff at Distance to Overuse of
Units Stay facility Facility Facility
RN-BS 2.21 2.35 3.23 4.45 1.48
RN-DIP 2.50 1.75 3.29 3.38 2.05
RN-AD 2.53 2.13 3.91 4.21 2.38
LPN 2.24 2.14 4.47 4.00 1.91
Factors were rated on a scale of 1 = “most significant” to 6 = “least significant.”
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 20 - June 2004
7. Course Options
The Nursing Education Program Annual Report includes questions on nursing education
curriculum. The answers to these questions provide helpful information to understand the
capacity of nursing education programs in Pennsylvania, and to understand how well they are
equipped with different course options to respond to various needs of students who wish to
pursue the career goals. The Report asks questions if the programs provides the following
options:
√ Full-time program with traditional daytime scheduling
√ Designated part-time program with traditional daytime scheduling
√ Designated part-time program with alternative scheduling, e.g., evening/weekend
classes and clinical experience
√ Nursing program offered at more than one site, e.g., satellite campus
√ Second Degree program option
√ RN/LPN Refresher course
√ RN/LPN Pharmacology course
√ RN/LPN Intravenous Therapy course
√ RN/PN Licensure Examination Review courses
The following results were drawn from the responses from these questions.
• RN-DIP programs do not offer as many options as RN-BS or RN-AD programs.
• RN-AD programs offer many more refresher and continuing education courses than either of
the other RN programs.
• LPN vocational education programs were more likely to offer a part-time option than LPN
community college programs.
• Community college/hospital-based LPN programs offer more refresher and continuing
education courses than vocational education programs.
• Sixty-three percent of RN programs and 42% of LPN programs offered a Nursing Licensure
Examination (NCLEX) Review Course.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 21 - June 2004
• Forty-one percent of RN programs and 21% of LPN programs made a Nursing Licensure
Examination Review Course available to individuals other than their own students.
Table 17: RN Programs of Study Offered by Nursing Programs, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
Table 17-A: RN-BS
RN
Programs FT PT Programs PT Programs Satellite 2nd RN Pharma- RN IV
Year Responding Programs (Traditional)a (Alternative)a Campusb Degreec Refresherd cologyd Therapyd
# % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
1999 32 32 100.0% 10 31.3% n/a n/a 6 18.8% 10 31.3% 0 0.0% 8 25.0% 1 3.1%
2000 33 33 100.0% 13 39.4% n/a n/a 2 6.1% 11 33.3% 1 3.0% 10 30.3% 3 9.1%
2001 34 34 100.0% 15 44.1% n/a n/a 4 11.8% 10 29.4% 5 14.7% 11 32.4% 3 8.8%
2002 33 33 100.0% 14 42.4% n/a n/a 3 9.1% 11 33.3% 2 6.1% 8 24.2% 1 3.0%
2003 33 33 100.0% 9 27.3% 5 15.2% 5 15.2% 11 33.3% 3 9.1% 9 27.3% 0 0.0%
Table 17-B: RN-DIP
RN
Programs FT PT Programs PT Programs Satellite 2nd RN Pharma- RN IV
Year Responding Programs (Traditional)a (Alternative)a Campusb Degreec Refresherd cologyd Therapyd
# % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
1999 25 24 96.0% 3 12.0% n/a n/a 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 1 4.0% 1 4.0%
2000 24 24 100.0% 4 16.7% n/a n/a 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 3 12.5% 3 12.5%
2001 24 23 95.8% 8 33.3% n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 8.3% 3 12.5% 3 12.5%
2002 23 22 95.7% 11 47.8% n/a n/a 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 2 8.7% 3 13.0% 4 17.4%
2003 23 22 95.7% 4 17.4% 6 26.1% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 3 13.0% 3 13.0% 4 17.4%
Table 17-C: RN-AD
RN
Programs FT PT Programs PT Programs Satellite 2nd RN Pharma- RN IV
Year Responding Programs (Traditional)a (Alternative)a Campusb Degreec Refresherd cologyd Therapyd
# % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
1999 22 22 100.0% 7 31.8% n/a n/a 2 9.1% 0 0.0% 4 18.2% 8 36.4% 8 36.4%
2000 22 22 100.0% 9 40.9% n/a n/a 4 18.2% 2 9.1% 5 22.7% 7 31.8% 6 27.3%
2001 22 22 100.0% 9 40.9% n/a n/a 6 27.3% 2 9.1% 9 40.9% 8 36.4% 10 45.5%
2002 22 22 100.0% 9 40.9% n/a n/a 5 22.7% 1 4.5% 11 50.0% 10 45.5% 9 40.9%
2003 22 22 100.0% 7 31.8% 5 22.7% 10 45.5% 1 4.5% 12 54.5% 9 40.9% 7 31.8%
a Traditional and Alternative Part-Time programs were not differentiated until 2003.
b Schools who operate their program on multiple satellite campuses were counted as a single program in the "Programs Responding" column.
c Second degree refers to a special track for students with a baccalaureate or associate degree in a discipline other than nursing.
d These are courses for currently licensed RNs who desire to update their skills. In some instances, a limited number of nurses may be directed by the Board of
Nursing to take such a course. The courses are not part of the pre-licensure program curriculum.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 22 - June 2004
Table 18: LPN Programs of Study Offered by Nursing Programs, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
Table 18-A: LPN Community College/Hospital-Based (CCH)
Refresherc Pharmacologyc IV Therapyc
PT Programs PT Programs Satellite
Programs FT Programs (Traditional)a (Alternative)a Campusb RN LPN RN LPN RN LPNd
Year Responding # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
1999 9 9 100.0% 0 0.0% n/a n/a 1 11.1% 2 22.2% 2 22.2% 3 33.3% 4 44.4% 5 55.6% n/a n/a
2000 10 10 100.0% 0 0.0% n/a n/a 2 20.0% 2 20.0% 2 20.0% 1 10.0% 4 40.0% 6 60.0% n/a n/a
2001 12 12 100.0% 0 0.0% n/a n/a 2 16.7% 5 41.7% 4 33.3% 2 16.7% 4 33.3% 5 41.7% n/a n/a
2002 10 10 100.0% 0 0.0% n/a n/a 3 30.0% 4 40.0% 4 40.0% 2 20.0% 3 30.0% 3 30.0% n/a n/a
2003 13 13 100.0% 1 7.7% 1 7.7% 6 46.2% 6 46.2% 6 46.2% 3 23.1% 5 38.5% 4 30.8% 6 46.2%
Table 18-B: LPN Vocational Education (Vo-Tech)
Refresherc Pharmacologyc IV Therapyc
PT Programs PT Programs Satellite
Programs FT Programs (Traditional)a (Alternative)a Campusb RN LPN RN LPN RN LPNd
Year Responding # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
1999 37 33 89.2% 8 21.6% n/a n/a 2 5.4% 1 2.7% 3 8.1% 1 2.7% 5 13.5% 10 27.0% n/a n/a
2000 37 34 91.9% 11 29.7% n/a n/a 1 2.7% 0 0.0% 3 8.1% 0 0.0% 8 21.6% 17 45.9% n/a n/a
2001 34 33 97.1% 11 32.4% n/a n/a 2 5.9% 1 2.9% 6 17.6% 0 0.0% 7 20.6% 13 38.2% n/a n/a
2002 32 31 96.9% 12 37.5% n/a n/a 2 6.3% 1 3.1% 4 12.5% 1 3.1% 7 21.9% 8 25.0% n/a n/a
2003 35 34 97.1% 4 11.4% 9 25.7% 2 5.7% 0 0.0% 6 17.1% 1 2.9% 9 25.7% 1 2.9% 13 37.1%
a
Traditional and Alternative Part-Time programs were not differentiated until 2003.
b
Schools who operate their program on multiple satellite campuses were counted as a single program in the "Programs Responding" column.
c
These are courses for currently licensed RNs who desire to update their skills. In some instances, a limited number of nurses may be directed by the Board of
Nursing to take such a course. The courses are not part of the pre-licensure program curriculum.
d
The question on LPN IV courses first appeared in 2003.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 23 - June 2004
Table 19
Number of Full-Time and Part-Time Classes Admitted Each Year,
by Program, Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
Number of Number of Total Number Total Number
Number of Part-Time Part-Time of Full-Time of Part-Time
Full-Time Traditional Alternate Classes Classes
Year Program Programs1 Programs2 Programs3 Admitted4 Admitted5
1999 RN-BS 32 10 0 41 17
RN-DIP 24 3 0 27 3
RN-AD 22 7 0 25 5
LPN 42 8 0 61 3
2000 RN-BS 33 13 0 43 18
RN-DIP 24 4 0 25 12
RN-AD 22 9 0 26 6
LPN 44 11 0 60 6
2001 RN-BS 34 15 0 46 29
RN-DIP 23 8 0 28 5
RN-AD 22 9 0 26 6
LPN 45 11 0 60 10
2002 RN-BS 33 14 0 43 26
RN-DIP 22 11 0 28 6
RN-AD 22 9 0 25 7
LPN 41 12 0 55 10
2003 RN-BS 33 9 5 42 18
RN-DIP 22 4 6 26 5
RN-AD 22 7 5 28 5
LPN 47 5 10 64 12
1
Full-Time Programs with traditional daytime scheduling.
2
Part-Time Programs with traditional daytime scheduling.
3
Part-Time Program with alternative scheduling; e.g., evening/weekend classes and clinical experience.
4
Number of times per year that students are admitted into full-time nursing programs.
5
Number of times per year that students are admitted into part-time nursing programs. This includes only
programs with evening/weekend alternative scheduling.
Note: Program size may vary with each class admitted per year.
Table 20
Numbers and Rates of Nursing Education Programs Which
Offer a Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Review Course and
Programs Which Make the Course Available to Individuals
Other Than Their Own Students, Pennsylvania, 2003
Programs with the
Total Programs with Course Open to
Programs Exam Review Individuals Other
Reported Course than their Students
RN-BS 33 18 (55%) 8 (24%)
RN-DIP 23 16 (70%) 12 (52%)
RN-AD 22 15 (68%) 12 (55%)
RN Total 78 49 (63%) 32 (41%)
LPN Total 48 20 (42%) 10 (21%)
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 24 - June 2004
ENDNOTES
1
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Purposes of the [State Nursing] Board, 49 Pennsylvania Code, sec. 21.3.
Available online at http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter21/chap21toc.html.
2
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, The Professional Nursing Law, (1 amended Dec. 20, 1985, P.L.409, No.
109). Available online at www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/lib/bpoa/20/nurs_board/nurseact.pdf.
3
Ibid.
4
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Practical Nurse Law, (1 amended Dec. 20, 1985, P.L.423, No.110).
Available online at www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/LIB/bpoa/20/10/pnact.pdf.
5
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 49 Pennsylvania Code, sec. 21.51.
6
Ibid., sec. 21.172.
7
Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, State Board of
Nursing. A list of approved nurse education programs is available online at
www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/cwp/view.asp?a=1104&q=440828.
8
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau changed its
definition of rural for the purpose of census reporting. The impact of this change is under study in
Pennsylvania and other states. For purposes of consistent comparison of these reports, the 1990 Census
definition was used. The 1990 and 2000 definitions may be found online at
www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/ur-def.html.
9
Commonwealth of PA, 49 Pennsylvania Code, Subchapter A, 21.61-21.63, Subchapter B, 21.184.
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 25 - June 2004
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 26 - June 2004
APPENDIX
1. Survey Form for RN-BS and RN-AD Programs
2. Survey Form for RN-DIP Programs
3. Survey Form for LPN Programs
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 27 - June 2004
APPENDIX 1
Survey Form for RN-BS and RN-AD Programs
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BUREAU OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS
STATE BOARD OF NURSING
P.O. BOX 2649
HARRISBURG, PA 17105-2649
PHONE: (717) 783-7142 FAX: (717) 783-0822
www.dos.state.pa.us email: st-nurse@dos.state.pa.us
PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
Directions: A. Complete and return this form to the office of the State Board
of Nursing no later than October 17, 2003
B. Limit information/data on this form to those students enrolled
in a program leading to licensure (i.e., do not include RN-
to-BSN students).
C. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information
should reflect data as of October 1, 2003.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Name of Nursing Education Program:
(Name will be utilized in Board correspondence with other agencies such as NCSBN, NLN, & AACN, etc.)
2. Address:
(Including street, city, zip)
3. Nursing Education Program’s Public Telephone #: Ext.
FAX #: E-Mail address: (For Board office use only)
4. Type of Educational Program: (please check)
Associate [ ] Baccalaureate [ ] Diploma [ ]
3 Name, Title, & Telephone # of Nursing Education Program Administrator:
(if different than public number)
6. Name & Title of Nursing Education Program Administrator's Immediate Supervisor:
7. Name of Parent/Controlling Institution:
8. Name & Title of Administrator of Parent/Controlling Institution:
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 28 - June 2004
9. Current Accreditation Status:
ACCREDITING
BODY STATUS DURATION
FROM TO
a. Controlling Institution:
b. Nursing Education Program:
FACULTY
10. Dean/Chair/Director:
a. Highest earned nursing degree: __________________ _
b. Highest earned degree and major: ___________________ __
11. Faculty:
Full Time Part Time
a. Number
Total number of registered nurse faculty members: ________ ________
(Do not include program’s administrator)
b. Qualifications
Number of registered nurse faculty members whose most
advanced nursing degree is a master’s or doctorate: ______ ______ _
(Do not include program’s administrator)
Number of registered nurse faculty members whose most
advanced nursing degree is a bachelor’s degree: _______ _______
Number of faculty members without the required master’s
degree who are currently enrolled in graduate studies: ___ ___ _______
Number of BSN prepared faculty who have not earned an
MSN degree after 5 years of employment with
this program: _______ __ ____
c. Changes
Number and names of new faculty hired since the last (i.e., 2001)
Annual Report was submitted: _______ ________
Names: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Number and names of faculty who have left employment since the
last (i.e., 2001) Annual Report was submitted: ________ ________
Names: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 29 - June 2004
CURRICULUM
12. Check all options that apply to your program.
a. [ ] Full-time (pre-licensure) program with traditional daytime scheduling
b. [ ] Designated part-time (pre-licensure) program with traditional daytime scheduling
c. [ ] Designated part-time (pre-licensure) program with alternative scheduling,
e.g., evening/weekend classes and clinical experience
d. [ ] Nursing program offered at more than one site, e.g., satellite campus
. number of sites = _____ (in addition to main campus)
. location of sites = ______________________________________
13. Does your degree program offer a “Second Degree” program option, i.e. a special
track for students with a baccalaureate degree in another discipline?
YES [ ] NO [ ]
(If “Yes”, attach Program of Studies)
14. Does your nursing education program – or – controlling institution offer any
of the following types of continuing education courses?
a. Refresher course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN ( )s/epyt elcriC PN
b. Pharmacology course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN ( )s/epyt elcriC PN
c. Intravenous therapy course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN )s/epyt elcriC( PN
15. Do you offer a licensure examination review course?
YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN )s/epyt elcriC( PN
If “Yes,” is it only for your students? YES [ ] NO [ ]
16. Number of academic credits, theory & clinical hours, or course units required for
completion of this PA State Board of Nursing approved program:
Academic Academic
Credits - OR - Course Units
Nursing courses: _________ _________
Non-Nursing courses: _________ _________
(Support courses, core requirements, etc.)
Total required for completion: _________ _________
STUDENTS
17. Number of students admitted/matriculated into most recent class or enrolled in
first upper division nursing course: _________
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 30 - June 2004
18. Enrollment:
. Number of student currently enrolled in the full-time nursing education program: ________
. Number of student currently enrolled in the part-time nursing education program: _______
(If applicable)
TOTAL = _________
19. How many times per year do you admit students into the nursing program?
Full-time class __________
Part-time class (evening/weekend alternative scheduling program only) __________
20. Clinical placement:
a. Has the program experienced any difficulty in obtaining clinical sites for student
experience? YES [ ] NO [ ]
b. If "yes," for which areas of clinical practice has your program experienced the most
difficulty? (Check all that apply)
[ ] Obstetrics [ ] Pediatrics [ ] Psychiatry [ ] Medical-Surgical
[ ] Community Health [ ] Critical care [ ] Geriatrics [ ] Other _________
c. What do you believe to be the factor(s) contributing to difficulty in obtaining clinical sites
for student learning experiences? Please rank your responses from 1 to 6 with 1
being the most significant factor.
[ ] Closure/downsizing of clinical units
[ ] Decreased patient census/length of stay
[ ] Insufficient staff at facility/on unit
[ ] Distance to facility
[ ] Overuse/several other programs utilizing the facility
[ ] Other ____________________________________
21. Attrition:
a. Provide the number of students who left without graduating during the last four years.
This should be reported for each graduating class for the specific year.
Total Number of Persons Leaving For Each Reason Listed Below
Number of
Students Change
Total who left in Other
Class Admitted without Academic Career Please
of to Class Graduating Failure Financial Goals Health Relocation Specify
2003
2002
2001
2000
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 31 - June 2004
b. Were any of these students readmitted to the program at a later date?
CLASS OF
2003 2002 2001 2000
Total Number of Students Readmitted to the
Program
22. Number of nursing students expected to complete the Board approved program
between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2004:
___________
23. Number of nursing students who completed the program between October 1, 2002
and September 30, 2003: ___________
24. Submit the following current related documents with this report:
a. Program Catalog
b. Program of Studies (on a separate sheet)
c. “Nursing Faculty Qualifications” Form for each new full-time and part-time
nursing faculty member hired since last annual report was filed if not
submitted at the time of hire (cited in # 11c)
25. Affix school seal and sign affidavit:
SCHOOL SEAL
I understand that the legal practice of nursing in this
Commonwealth is contingent upon possession of a current
Commonwealth license or permit. By regulation, the
administrator of a Pennsylvania approved nursing education
program must be currently licensed in Pennsylvania. As the
administrator of this program, I have read this report and
accept responsibility for its contents. I further understand that
each false statement made in this report may subject my
license(s), permit(s), and/or my certificate(s) to sanctions
and/or the imposition of civil penalties as enacted in Pa. C.S.
Section 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities
and may result in the suspension or revocation of my license,
permit, or certificate.
____________________________________________ ______________________________
Signature of Dean/Chair/Director of Date
Nursing Education Program
3002 ,71 REBOTCO YB TROPER SIHT TIMBUS
Developed: December, 1997
Revised: 7/98; 7/99; 7/00; 8/01; 8/02; 8/03
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 32 - June 2004
APPENDIX 2
Survey Form for RN-DIP Programs
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BUREAU OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS
STATE BOARD OF NURSING
P.O. BOX 2649
HARRISBURG, PA 17105-2649
PHONE: (717) 783-7142 FAX: (717) 783-0822
www.dos.state.pa.us email: st-nurse@dos.state.pa.us
PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
Directions: A. Complete and return this form to the office of the State Board of
Nursing no later than October 17, 2003.
B. Limit information/data on this form to those students enrolled in a
program leading to licensure (i.e., do not include RN-to-BSN
students).
C. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information should
reflect data as of October 1, 2003.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Name of Nursing Education Program:
(Name will be utilized in Board correspondence with other agencies such as NCSBN, NLN ,& AACN, etc.)
2. Address: (Including street, city, zip)
3. Nursing Education Program’s Public Telephone # : Ext.
FAX #: E-Mail address: (For Board office use only)
4. Type of Educational Program: (please check)
Associate [ ] Baccalaureate [ ] Diploma [ ]
5. Name , Title, & Telephone # (if different than public number)
of Nursing Education Program Administrator:
6. Name & Title of Nursing Education Program Administrator's Immediate Supervisor:
7. Name of Parent/Controlling Institution:
8. Name & Title of Administrator of Parent/Controlling Institution:
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 33 - June 2004
9. Current Accreditation Status:
ACCREDITING
BODY STATUS DURATION
FROM TO
a. Controlling Institution:
b. Nursing Education Program:
FACULTY
10. Dean/Chair/Director:
a. Highest earned nursing degree: ________________________________________
b. Highest earned degree and major: ____________________________________
11. Faculty:
Full Time Part Time
a. Number
Total number of registered nurse faculty members: ________ ________
(Do not include program’s administrator)
b. Qualifications
Number of registered nurse faculty members whose most ________ _______
advanced nursing degree is a master’s or doctorate:
(Do not include program’s administrator )
Number of registered nurse faculty members whose most ________ ________
advanced nursing degree is a bachelor’s degree:
Number of faculty members without the required master’s
degree who are currently enrolled in graduate studies: ________ ________
Number of BSN prepared faculty who have not earned an
MSN degree after 5 years of employment with this
program: _______ ________
c. Changes
Number and names of new faculty hired since the last (i.e., 2002)
Annual Report was submitted: ________ ________
Names: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Number and names of faculty who have left employment since the
last (i.e., 2001) Annual Report was submitted: ________ ________
Names: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 34 - June 2004
CURRICULUM
12. Check all options that apply to your program.
a. [ ] Full-time (pre-licensure) program with traditional daytime scheduling
b. [ ] Designated part-time (pre-licensure) program with traditional daytime scheduling
c. [ ] Designated part-time (pre-licensure) program with alternative scheduling, e.g.,
evening/weekend classes and clinical experience
d. [ ] Nursing program offered at more than one site, e.g., satellite campus
. number of sites = _____ (in addition to main campus)
. location of sites = ______________________________
13. Does your nursing education program – or – controlling institution offer any of the
following types of continuing education courses? (Please remember to circle if the
CE course is for RN's only or for RNs & LPNS)
a. Refresher course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN ( )s/epyt elcriC PN
b. Pharmacology course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN ( )s/epyt elcriC PN
c. Intravenous therapy course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN )s/epyt elcriC( PN
14. Do you offer a licensure examination review
course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN )s/epyt elcriC( PN
If “Yes,” is it only for your students? YES [ ] NO [ ]
15. Number of theory & clinical hours AND equivalent academic credits required for
completion of this PA State Board of Nursing approved program:
Equivalent Academic
Hours - AND - “Credits”
Nursing courses: _________ _________
(Classroom & Clinical)
Non-Nursing courses: _________ _________
(Support courses, core requirements, etc.)
Total required for completion: _________ _________
STUDENTS
16. Number of students admitted/matriculated into most recent class or enrolled in first
nursing course: __________
17. Enrollment:
. Number of student currently enrolled in the full-time nursing education program: ________
. Number of student currently enrolled in the part-time nursing education program: _______
(If applicable)
TOTAL = _______
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 35 - June 2004
18. How many times per year do you admit students into the nursing program?
Full-time class __________
Part-time class (evening/weekend alternative scheduling program only) __________
19. Clinical placement:
a. Has the program experienced any difficulty in obtaining clinical sites for student
experience? YES [ ] NO [ ]
b. If "yes,” for which areas of clinical practice has your program experienced the most
difficulty? (Check all that apply)
[ ] Obstetrics [ ] Pediatrics [ ] Psychiatry [ ] Medical-Surgical
[ ] Community Health [ ] Critical care [ ] Geriatrics [ ] Other _________
c. What do you believe to be the factor(s) contributing to difficulty in obtaining clinical sites
for student learning experiences? Please rank your responses from 1 to 6 with 1
being the most significant factor.
[ ] Closure/downsizing of clinical units
[ ] Decreased patient census/length of stay
[ ] Insufficient staff at facility/on unit
[ ] Distance to facility
[ ] Overuse/several other programs utilizing the facility
[ ] Other ____________________________________
20. Attrition:
a. Provide the number of students who left without graduating during the last four years.
This should be
reported for each graduating class for the specific year.
Total Number of Persons Leaving For Each Reason Listed Below
Number of
Students Change
Total who left in Other
Class Admitted without Academic Career Please
of to Class Graduating Failure Financial Goals Health Relocation Specify
2003
2002
2001
2000
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 36 - June 2004
b. Were any of these students readmitted to the program at a later date?
CLASS OF
2003 2002 2001 2000
Total Number of Students
Readmitted to the Program
21. Number of nursing students expected to complete the Board approved program
between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2004: ___________
22. Number of nursing students who completed the program between
October 1, 2002 and September 30, 2003: ___________
23. Submit the following current related documents with this report:
a. Program Catalog
b. Program of Studies (on a separate sheet)
c. “Nursing Faculty Qualifications” Form for each new full-time and part-time
nursing faculty member hired since last annual report was filed if not
submitted at the time of hire (cited in # 11c)
24. Affix school seal and sign affidavit:
SCHOOL SEAL
I understand that the legal practice of nursing in this
Commonwealth is contingent upon possession of a current
Commonwealth license or permit. By regulation, the administrator
of a Pennsylvania approved nursing education program must be
currently licensed in Pennsylvania. As the administrator of this
program, I have read this report and accept responsibility for its
contents. I further understand that each false statement made in
this report may subject my license(s), permit(s), and/or my
certificate(s) to sanctions and/or the imposition of civil penalties
as enacted in Pa. C.S. Section 4904 relating to unsworn
falsification to authorities and may result in the suspension or
revocation of my license, permit, or certificate.
__________________________________________ ______________________________
Signature of Dean/ Director of Date
Nursing Education Program
3002 ,71 REBOTCO YB TROPER SIHT TIMBUS
Developed: December, 1997
Revised: 7/98; 7/99; 7/00; 8/01;8/02; 8/03
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 37 - June 2004
APPENDIX 3
Survey Form for LPN Programs
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
BUREAU OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS
STATE BOARD OF NURSING
P.O. BOX 2649
HARRISBURG, PA 17105-2649
PHONE: (717) 783-7142 FAX: (717) 783-0822
www.dos.state.pa.us email: st-nurse@dos.state.pa.us
PRACTICAL NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
Directions: A. Complete and return this form to the office of the State Board of
Nursing no later than October 17, 2003.
B. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information should
reflect data as of October 1, 2003.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Name of Nursing Education Program:
(Name will be utilized in Board correspondence with other agencies such as NCSBN & NLN, etc.)
2. Address:
(Including street, city, zip)
3. Nursing Education Program’s Public Telephone #: Ext.
FAX #: E-Mail address: (For Board office use only)
4. Name, Title, & Telephone # (if different than public number)
of Nursing Education Program Administrator:
5. Name & Title of Nursing Education Program Administrator's Immediate Supervisor:
6. Name of Parent/Controlling Institution:
7. Name & Title of Administrator of Parent/Controlling Institution:
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 38 - June 2004
8. Current Accreditation Status:
ACCREDITING
BODY STATUS DURATION
FROM TO
a. Controlling Institution:
b. Nursing Education Program:
FACULTY
9. Coordinator/Director/Supervisor:
a. Highest earned nursing degree: _______________________________________
b. Highest earned degree and major: _____________________________________
10. Faculty:
Full Time Part Time
a. Number
Total number of registered nurse faculty members: ___ ___
(Do not include program’s administrator)
b. Qualifications
Number of registered nurse faculty members whose most
advanced nursing degree is a master’s or doctorate:
(Do not include program’s administrator) ________ ________
Number of registered nurse faculty members with a
baccalaureate degree: ________ ________
(Do not include those with graduate preparation again)
Number of faculty members without the required
degree currently enrolled in a baccalaureate program: _______ ________
Number of faculty members with less than
baccalaureate degree preparation after 5 years of
employment with this program: ________ _______
c. Changes
Number and names of new faculty hired since the last
(i.e., 2002) Annual Report was submitted: ________ ________
Names: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Number and names of faculty who have left employment since the
last (i.e., 2001) Annual Report was submitted: ________ ________
Names: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 39 - June 2004
CURRICULUM
11. Check all options which apply to your program.
a. [ ] Full-time (pre-licensure) program with traditional daytime scheduling
b. [ ] Designated part-time (pre-licensure) program with traditional daytime scheduling
c. [ ] Designated part-time (pre-licensure) program with alternative scheduling, e.g.,
evening/weekend classes and clinical experience
d. [ ] Nursing program offered at more than one site, e.g., satellite campus
. number of sites = _____ (in addition to main campus)
. location of sites = ___________________________________
12. Does your nursing education program or controlling institution offer any of the
following types of continuing education courses? (Please remember to circle if the
CE course is for LPN's only or for RNs & LPNS)
a. Refresher course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN (Circle type/s) PN
b. Pharmacology course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN (Circle type/s) PN
c. Intravenous therapy course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN (Circle type/s) PN
13. Do you offer a licensure examination review course? YES [ ] NO [ ]
RN (Circle type/s) PN
If “Yes,” is it only for your students? YES [ ] NO [ ]
14. Number of theory and clinical hours required for completion of this PA State Board
of Nursing approved program and, if applicable, the number of credits:
Theory Clinical Academic
Hours & Hours - or - Credits
Nursing courses: ________ ________ ________
Non-nursing or
support courses: ________ ________ ________
(e.g., A & P, English, etc.)
Total combined hours or credits required for completion: ______ hours - or - _____ credits
STUDENTS
15. Number of students enrolled in most recent class admitted to the program: ______
16. Enrollment:
. Number of student currently enrolled in the full-time nursing education program: ______
. Number of student currently enrolled in the part-time nursing education program: ______
(If applicable)
TOTAL = ______
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 40 - June 2004
17. How many times per year do you admit students to the nursing program?
Full time class/classes ________
Part-time class/classes (evening/weekend alternative scheduling program only) ________
18. Clinical placement:
a. Has the program experienced any difficulty in obtaining clinical sites for student
experience? YES [ ] NO [ ]
b. If "yes," for which areas of clinical practice has your program experienced the most
difficulty? (Check all that apply)
[ ] Obstetrics [ ] Pediatrics [ ] Psychiatry [ ] Medical-Surgical
[ ] Community Health [ ] Critical care [ ] Geriatrics [ ] Other __________
c. What do you believe to be the factor(s) contributing to difficulty in obtaining clinical sites
for student learning experiences? Please rank your responses from 1 to 6 with 1
being the most significant factor.
[ ] Closure/downsizing of clinical units
[ ] Decreased patient census/length of stay
[ ] Insufficient staff at facility/on unit
[ ] Distance to facility
[ ] Overuse/several other programs utilizing the facility
[ ] Other ____________________________________
19. Attrition:
a. Provide the number of students who left without graduating during the last four
years. This should be reported for each graduating class for the specific year.
Total Number of Persons Leaving For Each Reason Listed Below
Number of
Students Change
Total who left in Other
Class Admitted without Academic Career Please
of to Class Graduating Failure Financial Goals Health Relocation Specify
2003
2002
2001
2000
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 41 - June 2004
b. Were any of these students readmitted to the program at a later date?
CLASS OF
2003 2002 2001 2000
Total Number of Students Readmitted
to the Program
20. Number of nursing students expected to complete the Board approved program
between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2004: ___________
21. Number of nursing students who completed the program between
October 1, 2002 and September 30, 2003: ___________
22. Submit the following current related documents with this report:
a. Program Catalog
b. Program of Studies (on a separate sheet)
c. “Nursing Faculty Qualifications” Form for each new full-time and part-time
nursing faculty member hired since last annual report was filed if not
submitted at the time of hire (cited in # 10c)
23. Affix school seal and sign affidavit:
SCHOOL SEAL
I understand that the legal practice of nursing in this
Commonwealth is contingent upon possession of a current
Commonwealth license or permit. By regulation, the
administrator of a Pennsylvania approved nursing education
program must be currently licensed in Pennsylvania. As the
administrator of this program, I have read this report and accept
responsibility for its contents. I further understand that each false
statement made in this report may subject my license(s),
permit(s), and/or my certificate(s) to sanctions and/or the
imposition of civil penalties as enacted in Pa. C.S. Section 4904
relating to unsworn falsification to authorities and may result in
the suspension or revocation of my license, permit, or certificate.
_________________________________________ ______________________________
Signature of Coordinator/Director/Supervisor Date
of Nursing Education Program
SUBMIT THIS REPORT BY OCTOBER 17, 2003
Developed: December, 1997
Revised: 7/98; 7/99; 8/01; 8/02; 8/03
Nursing Education Programs in Pennsylvania - 42 - June 2004
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Bureau of Health Planning
Room 1033, Health and Welfare Building
P.O. Box 90
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108
Telephone: 717-772-5298
Bureau of Health Statistics and Research
555 Walnut Street, 6th Floor
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101-1914
Telephone: 717-783-2548
PA DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
State Board of Nursing
2601 North Third Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
Telephone: 717-783-7192
