Cross-Sectional Study to Determine Factors in the Educational Advancement of the Licensed Practical Nurse to the Registered Nurse in the State of North Carolina

According to the Harvard Nursing Research Institute, United States nursing school enrollments dropped by 20.9% from 1995 to 1998 (Healthcare Review, 2000). Behind headlines such as this one are the overwhelming issues which threaten the nursing workforce: 1) staffing cuts, 2) mandatory overtime, and 3) the use of unauthorized personnel to perform care, all at the cost of the patient's safety. The state of nursing in this country is very disturbing. There are hospitals grossly understaffed by registered nurses and with practical nurses who are being told to perform tasks beyond their skill and training levels (Mee & Robinson, 2003).

The pervasive nature of the problems which are present within the nursing profession are being acknowledged by the nurse-researchers, themselves, "Every article, speech, and interview about...
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