Endicott College invites strategic and philanthropic partners to help address the nursing shortage crisis at local and regional levels.

The stakes are high

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, analysts warned that the number of registered nurses would need to grow by approximately 1.2 million by the year 2030 to continue providing safe patient care. Since 2020, the problem has only worsened, as an estimated 5% of the nursing workforce left the profession. Hospitals are scrambling to fill staffing gaps with travel and per diem nurses, paying higher hourly rates.*

At the same time, the nursing shortage is directly impacting patient care. Multiple scientific studies show that insufficient nurse staffing leads to increased mortality rates, hospital readmission rates, rates of infection, and length of hospital stays. With a medical system that is already under pressure, the stakes could not be higher.

Despite the urgency to train more nurses, over 80,000 qualified Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) applicants were denied admission nationally.* Endicott College received over 900 applications for the 137 seats available in its traditional BSN Class of 2026 cohort.

High student interest would seem to solve the high demand for nurses, yet barriers remain in two critical areas:

• Qualified Teaching Faculty and Nurse Educators
  • An insufficient supply of qualified teaching faculty and clinical trainers limits nursing education opportunities available for BSN candidates.
• Clinical Training Opportunities
  • Hospitals are unable to accommodate hands-on, clinical training at a scale that addresses the current need for care. There is inadequate space on hospital floors to accommodate accreditable training.

Our bold response

Endicott College’s Project Nightingale seeks to train new nurse educators, build infrastructure and partnerships, and pilot innovative modalities to address the nursing shortage crisis in a three-phased approach.

Phase 1: Training the Trainers

Endicott has added new graduate programs that will train nursing professionals to educate future nurses. Together with hospital partners, we are developing incentives to attract new enrollees and increasing the attainability of graduate degrees. Endicott programs in resilience and mindfulness training support educators and trainees alike. The College’s offerings at the Doctoral, Master’s, and Bachelor’s levels include:

• Doctorate of Philosophy in Nursing Education
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Master of Science in Nursing Education
• Post Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education
• Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing
• • This 62-credit program is designed for professionals seeking to change career paths and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Phase 2: Infrastructure and Partnerships

Infrastructure developments on campus will lead to increased experiential learning opportunities while partnerships with local institutions promote a diverse student and instructor pool between participating institutions.

The Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences Building: Opening August 2023

• Expansion will increase the blueprint of nursing instructional space and include state of the art simulation labs and cutting edge technology.

Academic Practice Partnership (APP)

• APP agreements with Beverly Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital promise frictionless bi-directional movement of students, staff, and faculty between institutions, creating incentives and pathways for nurses to up-skill via graduate degrees and opportunities for BSN students to gain valuable, real-world experience.

Phase 3: Piloting Innovative Modalities

Project Nightingale partnerships are constantly evolving and seeking innovative solutions to overcome institutional barriers.

• Beverly Nursing Fellows Program
  • This scholarship program will offer ABSN students the opportunity to receive significant grant aid in exchange for a commitment of employment service at an Endicott partner hospital.
• Graduate Nursing Expansion Program
  • This “train the trainers” model program will allocate pooled resources for staffing, recruiting incentives, and scholarship funding needed to significantly grow enrollment in Endicott’s graduate degree programs.
• Endicott’s Hospital Residency Program
  • This concept-stage alternative BSN program modality will emphasize practical bedside training. By accelerating the standard BSN timeline at a lower total cost, this program is designed to improve accessibility for underrepresented populations and non-traditional nursing candidates.

Together, we’re committed to care

By emphasizing the replicability and scalability of the innovations developed through Project Nightingale, Endicott anticipates having a broad impact on the nursing shortage crisis. Endicott has taken major steps to develop its plan and is now seeking the support of philanthropic partners to accelerate its Phase 3 progress.

Your support will be invested in:

• People, seed capital will help Endicott make strategic hires to expand programs and launch new elements prior to realization of tuition revenues that will ultimately sustain the programs;
• Technology, funding the purchase and development of advanced simulation resources; and
• Equitable Opportunities for care and education, building experience with diverse populations and removing barriers for non-traditional students such as low-income/first generation students, single parents, and immigrants.

Become part of the solution

We are committed to care and we look forward to partnering with you to help address one of the most pressing issues of our time. For more information, contact Patrick Hewett, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at [email protected] or call 978-232-2376.

Learn more about the Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences

* According to a 2019 survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.