OHCWC Makes a Difference

More qualified applicants accepted into health care programs

On Wednesday, March 4, Sheryl McLain, executive director of the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center (OHCWC), shared new data on vacancies/educational capacity expansion with the Council of (College) Presidents of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE).

Referencing the presentation below, the new data (review slides 20-27) included the results of a 2008 vacancy and turn-over survey of Oklahoma hospitals, along with data on educational capacity expansion within Oklahoma’s higher education facilities. Since the data were reported in 2005, the percentage of qualified applicants accepted into all post-secondary (including technology centers) nursing and allied health programs increased from 57 to 63 percent.

Nursing program admissions improved significantly. Qualified applicants admitted into associate degree in nursing programs increased from 43 percent to 71 percent, with the number qualified applicants admitted to bachelor of nursing programs increasing from 68 to 85 percent. Although great progress is being made, our post-secondary educational system still turned away nearly 3,000 qualified applicants, primarily due to faculty shortages.

A comparison was provided on only those nursing and allied health programs reporting data in 2005 and in 2008 (review slides 23 and 24). These programs experienced an increase in the number of qualified applicants, by 625, increased overall admissions of qualified applicants by 416 students, graduated 178 more students, recorded 185 more jobs obtained within 6 months of graduation and saw jobs in Oklahoma decline just slightly, by 40. When comparing only nursing programs reporting in 2005 and 2008, the following improvements were demonstrated: the number of qualified applicants increased by 509, the number of qualified applicants admitted increased by 684, graduates increased by 228, those obtaining jobs within six months of graduation increased by 299 and those obtaining jobs in Oklahoma increased by 71, from 679 to 740.

According to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, graduation and licensure pass rates are very good for students admitted into nursing and allied health programs. Another positive finding is the majority of health profession graduates (89%) stay and work in Oklahoma.

The meeting concluded with a call to action from college presidents attending last week’s meeting, as follows:

Urge your legislator to support the appropriation of more dollars to OSRHE for capacity expansion (SB 310);
Ensure nursing and allied health faculty salaries are competitive with local health care industry rates in order to recruit and retain faculty;
Consider shared resources with other programs (e.g., faculty, facilities, simulators);
Encourage course and admission alignment between programs;
Encourage and support the use of technology (e.g., simulation, online and distance education courses) to increase capacity & use scarce faculty resources more efficiently; and
Encourage and support existing partnerships with local hospital partners & let them know the impact and ROI of their contributions.

A more comprehensive analysis beyond this top line data, from both the industry and from higher education will be forthcoming. [Download the presentation]

The Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center is a 501©(3) organization established in 2006 by Oklahoma legislation to serve as the coordinating entity for the state’s efforts to meet supply and demand needs for Oklahoma’s health care workforce. Goals of the Center include: ensuring Oklahoma’s current education and training systems have the resources and support necessary to produce the number of health care workers needed; increasing the job satisfaction and retention rates of current health care workers; and increasing the level of awareness among young people and adults of the opportunities available in health care. For more information about the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center, visit www.ohcwc.com.

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