Jackson, Miss. – Amid a nursing shortage that is exacerbating poor health in Mississippi, nursing programs at the state’s public universities are turning away hundreds of potential students each year for not being enough. number of lecturers.
Alfred Rankins Jr., Mississippi’s commissioner of higher education, said nursing programs have struggled to retain faculty because wages are lower than the state average for public college employees. .
“Unfortunately, our nursing programs have to turn down about 300 qualified nursing applicants each year because of limited faculty,” says Rankins.
The Mississippi Foundation for Higher Education is requesting a $5 million increase in state funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to strengthen nursing departments at public universities, which Rankins said will help alleviate shortages. About 73% of nursing graduates in Mississippi are still working in the state after five years, according to the agency.
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Dr. Daniel Edney, Mississippi’s top health official, told lawmakers in January that the state health department was short of 150 nurses. Shortages are hampering the department’s ability to address a range of poor health outcomes, from high maternal and infant mortality rates to severe cases of diabetes requiring amputations. .
Although Mississippi has struggled to build its medical workforce for years, a nationwide nursing shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated staffing problems. Some Mississippi hospitals have responded by introducing new incentives, such as bonus payments and loan repayments.
Rankins said faculty members at Mississippi’s four-year public institutions earn lower average salaries than their peers in neighboring states. Wages in Mississippi are below the regional average as measured by the Southern Regional Board of Education, which collects data on public education in 16 states. “It will take several years of growth to close the current gap,” says Rankins.
The neighboring states of Mississippi — Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas — also charge higher tuition for residents.
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The challenge of retaining faculty is compounded by inflationary pressures on university budgets. Rising prices for energy, food, and construction have made running a university more expensive. Protecting against digital threats is another priority that will require additional resources, says Rankins.
Since 2000, the state’s general fund has grown 82% while IHL’s share of the fund has grown by only 8%, according to figures presented by the agency.
Lawmakers must complete the state budget by the end of March.
