The United States is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows. Another problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are struggling to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nursing care.

ISU is no different but as we learned today; steps they are taking right now will help them with both problems. With nursing professions in high demand, select students at ISU are working hard to fill those openings.

Judy Lewis, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator: "The population is growing older. Baby Boomers are moving into nursing homes and what's happening is that we're not able to keep up."

With a lack of facilities and faculty; enrollment numbers for nursing students are down. So any students are highly helpful. And not just nationwide but locally.

Judy Lewis, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator: "A lot of them stay here locally. As far as I know, just about everybody from our last class is working and they are all working here locally."

Today is this class' assessment test. The students go through six different stations that have six different scenarios- from IV placement, wound assessment, and blood transfusions. It is designed this way because even though there is nation wide nursing shortage- the Professors still want to supply quality, not just quantity.

Judy Lewis, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator: "They have a rough idea of what to expect but they don't really know what's going to happen and so they know they'll need to be on their, their best to asses the patient."

And when the students do their best, the Professors are proud.

Judy Lewis, Practical Nursing Program Coordinator: "It makes you feel pretty good and it is also a huge responsibility, you know, you want to make sure that the students you put out there are qualified and competent which is why we do this assessment."

The ISU nursing program is expanding this summer. They are adding a part-time outreach program. This will add 22 more students to the program- going from 40 people in a class to 62.