How RFU's new master's in nursing program helps combat nursing shortages

RFU's new Master's Entry into Nursing Practice (MENP) program was designed to address nursing shortages in the Chicago region. Currently, the first group of students are in their third quarter of the two-year program and will graduate in 2025.

"[Nurses] are literally the backbone of the healthcare system, and I really wanted to be a part of that," said Ameera Minhaus, a nursing student in the program. "Originally I wanted to be a physician, but I wanted to be more involved in my patients' care."

RFU currently partners with three hospital systems in the Chicago area, including Northshore University Health System. During the program, students work in 10-week rotations in different fields of study at the hospitals.

"This is their first time with patients who have [been] admitted to the acute care floor," said clinical instructor Tim Mallers. "They're learning how to administer medications. They're learning how to administer shots, give IV fluids, antibiotics. Some of the patients we’re dealing with are coming right from ER. They're learning how to help stabilize and continue treatment these patients need. They will have gained the experience necessary so they will be able to provide care as seamlessly as possible."

"Our students are really lucky in that we have great healthcare systems around here and they get to train at all those places," said Lori Thuente, the chair of the MENP program and an associate professor at RFU. "The average nursing age is getting older. People are retiring because it's physically hard on your body. This program is really designed to help address the nursing shortage both locally and regionally."

According to NIH, there are approximately 1 million RNs older than 50, which means that a third of the workforce could be at retirement age in the next 10 to 15 years. RFU's program is an important way to ensure hospitals can continue to add to their nursing workforce over time.

"It's a wonderful pipeline for the hospital to bring in new, fresh talent," said Nicole Fernandez, CNO at Evanston Hospital. "Coming out with a Master's degree is something that is not very common [in nursing]. You come out with a much more rigorous education, and then you have more opportunities in the clinical setting as well, and for advancement in your profession, in your career, quicker."

The goal of RFU's program is also to encourage relationships that will make students want to stay with local hospitals after they graduate. One nursing student, Davon Marshall, says he plans to stay in Chicago after he graduates and hopes to get experience in the ICU.

"There's a need, especially since there's a [nursing] shortage, and after COVID. I think it's just been great to see people who really want to help their community," Marshall said. (NBC Chicago, 10/25)

In the wake of COVID-19 and new emerging workforce trends, building a flexible nursing workforce through nontraditional work options and cross-specialization is key to addressing imminent staffing challenges.