I attend a podunk university in southern Utah, where college life resembles an episode of 'Community', and the phenomenon you describe is apparent. 60% of the

I attend a podunk university in southern Utah, where college life resembles an episode of 'Community', and the phenomenon you describe is apparent. 60% of the students are seeking acceptance into the nursing program. The school claims it is one of "the top nursing schools in the country". This claim is based on their graduation rates (for those accepted, around 80%). The school inflates their graduation rates by leaning on biology teachers to increase the rate at which people pass their classes, and by making the most difficult classes (e.g. Microbiology) optional. The problem is that community and liberal arts colleges are small enough that the only significant measure of success is the rate at which students graduate. In my school, at least, nursing tends to (by and large) attract the sort of stupid people who are only interested in the certificate. In this the program is surpassed only by Elementary Education. Thus, economic pressures overpower academic concerns. Side note: I worry about our nurses. I spent the first three days of June in in the Intermountain Hospital, and I caught the CNAs inadvertently giving me someone else's prescription. Twice.