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Article Excerpt
ABSTRACT A troubling trend noted in California has been an increase in the number of open positions for program directors of associate degree registered nursing (ADRN) programs. Positions remain open for extended periods of time, and the number of qualified applicants for such positions is insufficient. The loss of and ensuing slow replacement of ADRN program directors can put these programs in jeopardy of student admission suspension, or, worse yet, closure by the state nursing board. In this exploratory study, variables of social support and job satisfaction were studied. Variables were found to be limited opportunities for peer interaction, expressed discontent, and retention concerns. A significant positive relationship between job satisfaction and social support was noted. Recommendations for future research are offered.
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CURRENTLY, 86 ACTIVE ASSOCIATE DEGREE REGISTERED NURSING (ADRN) PROGRAMS ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING (BRN) IN CALIFORNIA; 75 ARE LOCATED IN PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND 11 IN PRIVATE COLLEGES. To remain accredited, nursing programs must have a program director approved by the BRN (2006). Yet, a trend has been noted whereby vacancies in this position have been on the upswing, and open positions have typically remained available for extended periods of time. * The nurse faculty shortage is one possible predictor of the extended director-level vacancies, as seasoned faculty with administrative experience are the most likely replacement candidates. Factors related to the position itself, such as increased workloads, offer other plausible explanations. Another concern is the lack of mentored leadership training into the role; it is not uncommon for new nursing program directors to be selected or elected without highly specified management education or appropriate preparatory experience designed exclusively for this role (Pressler & Kenner, 2007). * Concern regarding the faculty shortage and faculty job satisfaction is of interest to nurse educators (Halcomb, Gregg & Roberts, 2007; National League for Nursing, 2006; Tanner, 2005). Of equal concern at this time should be the program director position, as this too is a critical leadership position within each nursing program. The trends noted in California may reflect trends in other areas of the United States. * THIS ARTICLE REPORTS ON A RESEARCH STUDY OF THE ADRN PROGRAM DIRECTOR ROLE ACROSS A SINGLE STATE. The purpose of this study was to assess a pivotal program position in nursing education and to elicit concerns in such a way that the position may ultimately be transformed. It is essential that leaders and researchers in nursing education understand that the nursing profession faces not only a nursing and nurse faculty shortage, but also a shortage of future academic leaders (Adams, 2007; Green & Ridenour, 2004).
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Background for the Study During ADRN program director meetings, participants expressed concerns about the lack of perceived support for nursing programs and program directors within the community college system, as well as dissatisfaction with some of the functions and duties associated with the program director role. Based on these conversations, the concept of social support was selected as one variable for study; it has not been previously studied for this population. As job satisfaction has been studied for baccalaureate education administrators, it followed that job satisfaction would be a likely concept to explore at the ADRN level.
In recent articles across multiple disciplines, a relationship between the concepts of social support and job satisfaction has been hypothesized (Gelsema et al., 2006; Judge, Bono, Erez, & Locke, 2005; Shirey, 2004). However, there is no published research to support this association. In addition, no studies on job satisfaction among directors of ADRN programs were found in the literature.
California ADRN directors were selected as a population of interest as a number of concerns had been identified: a) high turnover and low retention of current directors with few candidates applying for vacant positions; b) multiple titles and ranking levels of ADRN program directors, ranging from administrative dean to faculty-level...
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