April 13, 2014 Barbara Bolson Kodiak College Director Kodiak College University of Alaska Anchorage 117 Benny

Benson Drive Kodiak, Alaska 99615

Dear Ms. Bolson: I am writing to inform you that I have completed my study on the feasibility of Kodiak College opening a nursing degree program. I would like to take this time to thank you for the opportunity and for granting me permission to move forward with conducting further research on this subject.

During this study while I was researching if there was a need for more nurses, I found that there is a faculty shortage for nursing programs. So now along with the need for more nurses we also have a need for more faculties. I created a questionnaire to survey my classmates to see if they believed there was a need for more nurses and also if they had interest and support for the program itself. I then analyzed the data collected and found that it might be feasible for Kodiak College to have a nursing degree program.

I have found researching this subject both interesting and rewarding and I thank you again for the opportunity and hope that you enjoy reading the report.

Sincerely,

Holly Patterson Enclosures

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 2 Running head: NURSING DEGREE PROGRAM AT KODIAK COLLEGE

Opening a Nursing Program at Kodiak College UAA: A Feasibility Report Holly Patterson Kodiak College UAA ENGL 212 May 1, 2014

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 3 Abstract This paper examines the feasibility of Kodiak College University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) opening a nursing degree program. Students from UAA were participants in this study. They took a survey that pertained to this matter. Research was conducted by using primary and secondary research on the subject. It is found that even though there is a shortage of faculty, there is still a need for more nurses, and there is interest and support for the program. The paper concludes that it is feasible for a nursing degree program to be opened at Kodiak College. Further research is recommended to be conducted on other Alaska nursing programs budgets to see if the Kodiak College can run the program.

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 4

Table of Contents
Abstract........................................................................................................................................................ 3

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Methods........................................................................................................................................................ 8

Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 15 References .................................................................................................................................................. 16 Appendix A: Questionnaire...................................................................................................................... 18

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 5 Introduction On February 9, 2014, permission was received to proceed with researching this feasibility project. Research conducted began with secondary research by searching for peer-reviewed published articles and books in the UAA Consortium Library's online databases. This topic is important because having the full nursing program, here in Kodiak, would help lower cost for students here. Such as, their tuition being lower and not having to pay for traveling and the housing expense's to live in Anchorage. It also helps to provide for the shortage of nurses in the United States. According to Martin(2007), currently at Kodiak College you can graduate with a bachelors degree in elementary education without leaving the island, but that is the only bachelor degree program they offer that can be completed on the island. Is it feasible for Kodiak College UAA to open up a nursing degree program? Kodiak College offers a minimal amount of online and on-campus classes, classes that are necessary for students looking to complete the start of their degree program. These classes are very sought after that there's even a waiting list. The problem with starting to get a nursing degree in Kodiak is in order to finish you must leave the island to be able to take required face-to-face classes that are needed that are only offered in Anchorage. Kodiak College only accepts 12 students into their program every other year, but these students still have to leave to finish their degree in Anchorage. In a study done in 2010 by Coose, at the associate degree nursing program at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) about the study of the educational delivery methods utilized by the program. It showed that some of the participants found benefits to taking distance

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 6 classes because they liked the ability to stay in ones home community while getting their education. (para. 17) Nurses are in high demand, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012 there were 2,711,500 jobs for registered nurses, and the job outlook is estimated to rise by 19% (faster than average) from 2012-2022. It is estimated that, by 2020, there will be a shortage of 1 million nurses. To date there are two colleges, in Alaska that offer nursing programs, UAA and Charter College. If Kodiak College opened up a nursing program, so you were able to graduate with a AND (associate's degree in nursing), or BSN (bachelors of Science degree in nursing) it would greatly help to supply the demand for more nurses in the United States. According to Kersey (2012), the nursing shortage and the nursing faculty shortage seem to be directly related to each other. Colleges have to turn away qualified applicants because there are not enough faculty members (nurse educators) to support all the classes. Part of the reason is that many nurses start their careers as nursing educators a few years before they are near their retirement age. Research shows that the shortage of nursing faculty was much higher during this time Leovy (1999) found that state and college officials do not want to invest in nursing programs because they are more expensive academic courses. So most colleges have to turn away qualified students, because there is no room and the nursing programs have not been expanded in many years. According to a report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN,2014), 79,659 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 7 were turned away by U.S. nursing schools in 2012 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints. Almost two-thirds of the nursing schools responding to the survey pointed to faculty shortages as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into baccalaureate programs. (para.3)

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 8 Methods The following methods shown below were used to research and gather information regarding the feasibility of Kodiak College opening a nursing degree program. A questionnaire survey was developed regarding a nursing program being opened at Kodiak College UAA. The questionnaire was distributed to students of UAA 212 English class, and it received 19 responses. The collected data was analyzed, and the graphics were created using the data results information provided by the respondents.

I searched for information on other nursing programs offered in Alaska on the web.

While researching at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, I found a selection of articles in the Newsbank database about degree programs in Alaska, which were helpful in my report.

Researched the cost of opening up a nursing program in the UAA/APA Consortium Library and Google Scholar, with no results.

Researched nursing faculty in the UAA/APA Consortium Library and Google Scholar and found helpful information in a few articles.

Researched how long the wait list time is for the nursing program in Anchorage on the web and in the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) website.

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 9 Researched the need for more nurses in the nursing subject in the UAA/APA Consortium Library. Found information about rates of qualified students being turned away in the UAA/APA Consortium Library and Google Scholar.

The following criteria were used to analyze the data and determine my conclusion and recommendations: Is there a need for more nurses? Would Kodiak UAA be able to hire the faculty required to teach the classes? Is there an interest and support for classes to be offered to complete a nursing degree at Kodiak College UAA from students?

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 10 Results The graphics that are shown below are the results of a survey given in March 2014 to students of Krista Soria's 212 Technical Writing class. The survey was used to gather information to help answer the feasibility questions for this proposal. The feasibility question was Is it feasible for Kodiak College University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) to open up a nursing degree program? The information shown below helps to answer specific criteria questions from the proposal. One of the criteria questions is whether or not we need more nurses. Figure 1 demonstrates that out of the 19 participants that finished the survey 84% agreed that there is a need for more nurses in the United States. As the graph shows below, the majority of the participants, 84% do believe that there is a need for more nurses while there was only 16% who disagreed. Therefore, it would be a good reason for Kodiak UAA College to look at opening up a nursing program, where students can graduate with either a bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN) or an associate's degree in nursing (AND).

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 11

Yes

No

16%

84%

Figure 1. Shows the percent of yes or no answered if they were in agreement that more nurses are needed. The participants mainly agreed that there is a need for more nurses. As shown below in (Figure 2), 13 out of 19 of participants agreed that having a nursing program in Kodiak would help lower waiting lists to get into such programs in Alaska. Currently in Alaska there are two colleges that offer nursing programs UAA and Charter College. There is a waiting list to get into their programs. The time varies on how long students are on the list. With having another nursing program being offered in the state of Alaska, it would help to bring in students from the lower 48 states. It would also help, so students do not have to leave Alaska to receive a degree in nursing. It helps show that there is support for Kodiak UAA College to have a nursing degree program.

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 12

14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Yes No

Figure 2. Shows if whether or not they believed that having the nursing program in Kodiak would help lower time spent on waiting lists. The majority who participated in the survey said yes. Figure 3 below shows the percentage of participants who thought that students who wanted their degree in nursing would be willing to move to Kodiak, Alaska. Some people might not want to live on Kodiak Island. To go to college so it can be considered a draw-back. However it is shown below that out of the 19 participants 63% said yes, while 37% said no. Having students willing to live in Kodiak would show that it is possibly to have a nursing program and that Kodiak UAA College would benefit from it. This graph (Figure 3) helps to answer a criteria question if there are an interest and support from students for the program to be offered, and if people would go to Kodiak for a degree, which the answer would be yes. Yes, students who want their degree in nursing would move to Kodiak, Alaska to obtain it.

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37% 63% No Yes

Figure 3. Shows whether or not participants thought students who wanted a degree in nursing would move to Kodiak, Alaska to enroll in the program. Twelve out of 19 people surveyed answered yes. Therefore, the graphics above helped to answer some of the criteria questions. For example if nurses are in a high demand. Which would be yes, it is believed that the need is high for nurses. Also if there were support and interest for classes to be offered which there is. Criteria The final recommendation is based on the following criteria: Is there a need for more nurses? Would Kodiak UAA be able to hire the faculty required to teach the classes? Is there an interest and support for classes to be offered to complete a nursing degree at Kodiak College UAA from students?

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 14 Conclusion Based on the data gathered from primary research, secondary research, and a survey giving to UAA students it shows that there is support and interest for the program to be offered and that there is a demand for more nurses. The results of the study conclude that it can be feasible to open a nursing degree program at Kodiak College UAA.

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 15 Recommendations It would be recommended to do further primary and secondary research on this subject. Focus more on other nursing programs budgets and funding to help determine the cost of opening up a nursing program at Kodiak College UAA. Research more on the faculty shortage for nursing programs. Have a more in-depth survey to be distributed to a larger group of people on this matter.

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 16 References Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 201415 Edition, Registered Nurses, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm (visited February 23, 2014). Coose, C. S. (2010). Distance nursing education in alaska: A longitudinal study. Nursing Education Perspectives, 31(2), 93-6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/219978670?accountid= 14473 Kersey, P. (2012). From the hospital room to the classroom: Recruiting and supporting new nursing faculty. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 19(2), 17-28. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/1428766581?accountid =14473 Leovy, J (1999, Nov 23). Dropout, failure rates in nursing programs soars. Los Angeles Times.Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.consortiumlibrary.org/docview/421443376?accountid= 14473 Martin, B. "Kodiak College offers new degree program - Officials say dual-credit, communityinterest courses help boost enrollment." Kodiak Daily Mirror (AK) 6 Sep. 2007, News: NewsBank. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 17 Rosseter, R.J ( 2014). Nursing faculty shortage fact sheet. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. 1-4 (para.3) Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/mediarelations/FacultyShortageFS.pdf

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 18 Appendix A: Questionnaire Hello everyone, Thank you for participating in my survey today! My name is Holly Patterson, and I am currently a student in Krista Soria's English 212 class. The purpose of my survey is to find if it's feasible for Kodiak UAA College to have a nursing degree program. Currently, you have to be on a waiting list to be accepted into the program here in Alaska. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my professor at kmbot@uaa.alaska.edu. You were all selected to participate in this survey because you're a part of Krista Soria's Technical Writing class 212. Please note that all of your responses in this survey will be kept confidential. Thank you again for participating! What is your age?

17-30 31-39 40-54 55+

What is your gender?

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 19 Male Female Don't answer

Do you believe there is a need for more nurses in the United States?

Yes No

Would you be interested in enrolling, in the nursing program if it were offered at Kodiak UAA College?

Yes No

Do you believe having a nursing program in Kodiak would lower waiting lists to get into such programs here in Alaska?

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 20 Yes No

If you said yes to question 6, explain why you believe that. Do you know anyone who would be interested in enrolling, in a nursing program?

Yes No

Are you currently on a waiting list to get into a nursing degree program?

Yes No

Do you know anyone who has left the state of Alaska to enroll in a nursing program, because they were unable to get into a nursing program here in Alaska?

Yes

Nursing Degree Program at Kodiak College UAA 21 No

If yes to question 10, how many people?

0 1-3 4-6 7-10

Do you believe that people who are interested in enrolling, in a nursing program would relocate to Kodiak, AK in order to obtain their degree in nursing?

Yes No