Enrollment Growth in U.S. Nursing Colleges and Universities Hits an 8-Year Low
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) today released preliminary survey data showing that enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by only 2.0 percent from 2007 to 2008. Though this marks the eighth consecutive year of enrollment growth, the annual increase in student capacity in four-year nursing programs has declined sharply since 2003 when enrollment was up by 16.6 percent. Adding to this sobering news is the fact that enrollment growth in master’s nursing programs has also decreased, and the number of students entering research-focused doctorates appears to be flat based on early reporting.
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/2008/EnrlGrowth.html

NCLEX Fact Sheet 2008
NCSBN has just released their annual Fact Sheet.  According to the Fact Sheet, 51,373 Internationally-trained RNs sat for the NCLEX in 2008.  Of those, about 19,000 passed the exam.
https://www.ncsbn.org/NCLEX_Stats_2008_Q4.pdf

I-9 Form Delayed
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it has delayed by 60 days, until April 3, 2009, the implementation of an interim final rule entitled ”Documents Acceptable for Employment Eligibility Verification” published in the Federal Register on Dec. 17, 2008. The rule streamlines the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) process.
http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/FR_Notice_I-9_30jan08.pdf

Sec. Napolitano Sworn In
Janet Napolitano was sworn in on January 21, 2009 as the third Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Napolitano was mid-way through her second term as Governor of the State of Arizona.
http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/bio_1231864742617.shtm

NCSBN Mid-Year Meeting in March
The NCSBN Mid-Year Meeting is set for March 2-4 in Chicago, IL.  The Meeting is only for NCSBN members.
https://www.ncsbn.org/events.htm

POEA Releases Canadian Recruitment Guidelines
The POEA released a guideline Memorandum for Canadian employers seeking to recruit in Canada.  The Memorandum speaks to exit clearance and employer validity.
http://www.poea.gov.ph/MCs/MC%206-08.pdf

Nurses a Priority for New President?
Will President Barack Obama's administration include nurses? Amid the flurry of appointments to White House jobs, nurse leaders and policy experts are cautiously optimistic.  Nurse leaders say they have met several times with the Obama transition team to talk about the need for support for nursing education and research and the critical contribution nurses can make, as well as to submit names of nurses they believed would make good policy leaders.
http://include.nurse.com/article/20090126/NATIONAL01/102090028/-1/frontpage