HAMMOND, IN (ASRN.ORG)- A survey found that with a shortage of nurses looming nationwide, Indiana nursing programs rejected about 2,500 qualified applicants because the schools didn't have the full-time faculty needed to teach them.

The 2008 survey by the Indiana Nursing Workforce Development Coalition says faculty shortages prevent nursing programs from maintaining a supply of qualified applicants.

The Council on Physician and Nurse Supply says an additional 30,000 nurses need to graduate each year to meet the nation's health care needs.

The survey says about half of Indiana's nursing faculty work part time while they maintain jobs as nurses. But the schools need more nurses who are able to teach full time, and they have to have doctorates.

Copyright 2010- American Society of Registered Nurses® (ASRN.ORG)-All Rights Reserved