Health care systems across the country are facing a critical challenge: a dual shortage
of both nurses and nursing educators. The ripple effects of these shortages are significant,
contributing to burnout among current nurses, longer wait times for patients, and,
most notably, a bottleneck in nursing education. Thousands of aspiring nursing students
are being turned away from programs due to the lack of qualified faculty to teach
them.
TCU’s DNP-to-Ph.D. in nursing bridge program is a direct response to this challenge, offering a comprehensive solution by fostering
highly skilled nurse educators. These professionals are equipped not only to expand
nursing school enrollments but also to enhance patient care through their clinical
expertise and academic leadership.
The Growing Demand for Nurses and Educators
The United States is currently facing a projected shortfall of hundreds of thousands
of nurses over the next decade. This shortage has been exacerbated by an aging population,
an increasing demand for health care services, and the retirement of seasoned nurses.
At the same time, nursing schools are struggling to meet the rising demand for new
nurses due to a lack of qualified educators.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing schools turned away more than 80,000 qualified applicants in recent
years due to faculty shortages. This is not only slowing the growth of the nursing
workforce but also placing a tremendous strain on the healthcare system. The need
for both more nurses and more educators has never been greater.
How TCU’s DNP-to-Ph.D. in Nursing Bridge Program Addresses the Educator Shortage
TCU’s newest graduate nursing program is uniquely positioned to address the educator
shortage by providing nurses with a pathway to transition from clinical practice into
academia. This program is designed for nurses who have already completed their Doctor
of Nursing Practice (DNP) and want to pursue a Ph.D. to gain the necessary qualifications
for teaching and research roles.
“The DNP-to-Ph.D. in nursing bridge program allows us to take nurses with real-world experience and empower them to teach the next generation," Suzy Lockwood, Ph.D., program director explains. "This not only addresses the educator shortage but also ensures that students are learning from professionals who understand the realities of patient care.”
By fostering nurse educators, TCU is playing a pivotal role in expanding nursing school
enrollments. As more educators become available, schools can admit more students,
helping to close the gap in the nursing workforce. In turn, this contributes to a
more robust health care system, where there are enough nurses to meet patient needs
and provide high-quality care.
The Intersection of Education and Patient Care
One of the defining features of the program is its emphasis on the intersection between
nursing education and patient care. Nurse educators who graduate from this program
are not only skilled teachers but also seasoned clinicians who bring their expertise
into the classroom. This creates a unique advantage for students, who benefit from
the knowledge and experience of their instructors.
This blend of clinical expertise and academic leadership is what sets TCU’s program
apart. Graduates are not only helping to solve the educator shortage but are also
conducting research that advances the nursing profession and improves health care
outcomes for patients. Whether it’s developing new care protocols, influencing health
care policy or mentoring students, these nurse educators are shaping the future of
health care.
Solving the Nurse Shortage: More Educators, More Nurses
By increasing the number of qualified nurse educators, TCU’s DNP-to-Ph.D. in nursing
bridge program is helping to solve the nurse shortage on a larger scale. Every nurse
educator trained through this program has the potential to teach dozens, if not hundreds,
of nursing students over the course of their career. This means that every new educator
represents a significant increase in the number of nurses entering the workforce.
“When we train nurse educators, we’re not just filling one role," Kathy Baker, Ph.D., a professor in the program, emphasizes. "We’re creating a ripple effect that can lead to hundreds of new nurses entering the workforce, all trained by experienced professionals who are deeply committed to improving patient care.”
This strategy is particularly important in light of the growing demand for nurses
in critical areas such as acute care, gerontology and mental health. With more nurse
educators, schools can expand their programs and produce the number of nurses needed
to address the country’s health care challenges.
Mentorship and Support: A Path to Academic Success
One of the key components of the program is its emphasis on mentorship and support.
Transitioning from clinical practice to academia can be a challenging process, and
TCU recognizes the importance of providing guidance and encouragement to its students.
Each student is paired with a faculty mentor who helps them navigate the academic
world, from developing teaching strategies to conducting research.
This mentorship is crucial in ensuring that nurse educators are prepared not only
to teach but also to mentor the next generation of nurses, creating a cycle of knowledge
and care that strengthens the entire healthcare system.
A Comprehensive Solution for a Complex Challenge
This program is not just about filling faculty positions—it’s about creating leaders
who will shape the future of nursing education and health care. These nurse educators
are the key to solving the workforce crisis, and their impact will be felt for generations
to come.