SALISBURY, Md.- More people are applying to nursing programs across the U.S., according to one study. Salisbury University Director of Admissions Beth Skoglund says the university is also seeing that trend.
“Both incoming freshmen and transfer students this past year, we’ve seen a slight increase in the number of students that enrolled in the nursing program. The numbers that were admitted and enrolled in the nursing program for both the freshman and the transfer side,” said Skoglund.
Undergraduate applications to Salisbury's nursing school increased by 10%. That is why the university is looking to increase class sizes.
“We’re trying to increase the size of the class of nursing students that we enroll so we can accommodate the workforce out there looking for nurses,” said Skolund.
Dr. Brenda Mister, the department chair of Wor-Wic Community College's nursing program, says applications are down but the college anticipates an increase.
“Actual applications have slowed down during the pandemic but we expect it to pick up though,” said Mister.
Wor-Wic nursing student Samantha Thornton says she wanted to be a nurse before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has motivated her even more to become a nurse.
“Yes, I am looking forward to being a nurse. And even if I graduate when the pandemic is still going on, I’m still looking forward to it,” Thornton said.