Nursing Student Admissions Database

Project Description
Project Need
2008-2009 Findings
2009-2010 Project Goals 
Data Submission Information

Funding for the Nursing Student Admissions Database Project is provided by the Oregon Workforce Investment Board via the Department of Community Colleges & Workforce Development, Employer Workforce Training Fund, GRNT#0148 (2008) and GRNT#0229 (2009).

Project Description

The Nursing Student Admissions Database (NSAD) Project is one component of the Oregon Center for Nursing's Nursing Workforce Diversity Initiative. The aim of the NSAD Project is to begin annual collection of reliable data that describes the true number and selected demographic characteristics of applicants applying to Oregon's 21 Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) schools in order to accurately track and report admissions and enrollment trends.

In time, the NSAD Project's data may serve as the impetus for targeted outreach to increase diversity and cultural competence in Oregon's nursing workforce as well as provide nursing programs/schools and policy makers with valuable information about increasing nursing career pathways and ameliorating Oregon's nursing shortage.

Project Need

In recent years, the impending nursing shortage both in Oregon and on a national level has been discussed at great length. In 2006, the Oregon State Board of Nursing reported there were six qualified nursing school applicants for each available seat among the state's 15 ADN programs and six BSN schools.

Although Oregon has seen an 80% increase in pre-licensure RN graduates between 2001 and 2007, the current pool of qualified applicants is estimated to be two to three times greater than the capacity to meet this demand due in part to shortages in the state's nursing faculty and clinical sites. While there is almost certainly a need to increase nursing student enrollment as a means of meeting Oregon's projected nursing workforce needs, there is equally a need to research all aspects of nursing admissions and graduation rates.

Additionally, as Oregon's population becomes more diverse, it is important to increase the diversity and cultural competence of our state's nursing workforce. Currently, all ethnic/racial minority groups, and men, are underrepresented in Oregon's nursing workforce. In order to make significant progress on improving nursing workforce diversity, Oregon's nursing programs and schools must successfully recruit, retain and graduate a diverse student population. While each school keeps its own enrollment statistics, the number and racial/ethnic background of underrepresented students applying, enrolling, and graduating from Oregon's nursing schools has not been reported.

The Nursing Student Admissions Database Project addresses the need for accurate and up-to-date information in these critical areas.

2008-2009 Major Findings

• In 2008, 3,821 applicants submitted 6,186 applications for 1,455 nursing school seats, an average of 2.3 qualified applicants per nursing school seat. 
• Collecting applicant level data instead of program-level data is feasible and also accounts for applicants who apply to more than one program.
• Applicant-level data provides a more accurate description of the demand and demographics of nursing school applicants.  
  • In 2008-2009, program-level data overstated the number of nursing school applicants by 2,365 applicants.
  • Program-level data previously reported that there were 3.6 qualified applicants per seat. Applicant-level data revealed that there were 2.3 applicants per nursing school seat, indicating the program level data overstated the number of qualified applicants per seat by 1.3. 
• The acceptance rate (selectivity) of nursing schools was 45 percent.
• The enrollment rate (yield) for nursing schools was 81 percent.
• The vast majority of nursing school applicants (83 percent) and enrolled students (93 percent) are Oregon residents.
• Forty-three percent of enrolled students submitted applications to more than one school. Enrolled students applied to an average of 1.9 programs.
• Applicants from underrepresented ethnic/racial groups were more likely to be unqualified applicants.    
• Ninety-one percent of unqualified applicants only submitted one application. 
• Applicants from underrepresented ethnic/racial groups who met the qualifications for nursing school were admitted at rates similar to Caucasian students.

Who Gets In? Pilot Year Data from the Nursing Student Admissions Database (2009)
Lessons Learned from the Nursing Student Admissions Database Fact Sheet (2009)
Who Gets In? Major Findings Presentation (2009)

2009-2010 Project Goals

• Continue tracking demand and demographics for nursing school applicants
• Begin tracking ADN and BSN nursing student enrollment and retention trends
• Begin tracking multi-year applicants

Data Submission Information 

The resources below will assist you in collecting your school’s applicant and retention data. Please contact the NSAD program manager if you have further questions.
  
NSAD Webinar 
2009-2010 NSAD Instruction Manual
2010-2011 NSAD Instruction Manual (Coming Soon!)
Applicant Excel Template
Applicant Excel Example
Retention Excel Template
Retention Excel Example 

To submit your school’s applicant and retention data to the NSAD, please click here.