Take Advantage of the Statewide Articulation Plan: RN to BSN Programs in Ohio

The ADN is an important pathway into professional nursing, but should it be the terminal degree? Many healthcare organizations, from the American Nurses Association to the Institute of Medicine, see the degree as more of a stepping stone to a bachelor‘s. ANA encourages professional nurses to achieve their baccalaureate degrees within ten years of entering the field. The IOM has set an ambitious goal: 80% of nurses with baccalaureate degrees by 2020. There are several reasons that the BSN has support at the institutional level. Multiple studies have found better patient outcomes at facilities that employ a larger percentage of BSN-prepared nurses. The BSN is also better preparation for healthcare settings outside the hospital. Increasingly, healthcare services are being moved away from large hospitals and medical centers.

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BSN Career Mobility

If you’re an excellent nurse, a BSN degree can make you competitive for a range of positions at the state’s most elite hospitals. There is evidence that healthcare is actually an export industry in Ohio — in other words, people are coming from elsewhere for medical services. It is hard to explain the concentration of healthcare workers otherwise! The state certainly has a lot of premier hospitals. There are a total of 386 facilities, in the U.S. and around the world, that have been granted magnet recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center; fully 21 of them are in Ohio. Hospitals with magnet recognition are known for an ability to hire the best. Ohio’s facilities vary in their hiring policies. If you peruse the list of nursing positions at Cincinnati Children’s, you will see the designation ‘BSN required’ over and again. There are other facilities that will consider candidates with ADN degrees or diplomas for various positions. Positions like case manager or care manager, though, are apt to prefer a BSN.

RN to BSN Program Considerations

Ohio has a statewide articulation plan. This means that there are schools across the state that will award you lower division nursing courses on the basis of your RN license. It also means that you have a lot of choices! You will find distance learning options available through both public and private institutions. Traditional schools also have scheduling options that cater to the needs of working nurses. Students might, for instance, attend classes one to two days per week. Programs can range from about one year to about five years.

Some hospitals, like Chris Hospital and Jewish Hospital, have partnerships with colleges that allow classes to be offered on-site. In general, Ohio’s hospitals are generous when it comes to offering employees incentives to continue their education. This typically takes the form of tuition reimbursement; there may also be scholarships or tuition waivers. Depending on the program you choose and the pacing, the tuition reimbursement may or may not cover all costs. Still, it should make a big difference, leaving you free to focus on the import part on your education: the classes.

RN to BSN Programs in Ohio

Ashland University

Capital University

Cleveland State University

College of Mount Saint Joseph

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Kent State University

Kettering College of Medical Arts

Lourdes College

Malone College

Mercy College of Northwest Ohio

Miami University

Mount Carmel College of Nursing

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Muskingum College

Notre Dame University

Ohio Northern University

Ohio University

The Ohio State University

The University of Akron

University of Cincinnati

University of Rio Grande

University of Toledo

Urbana University

Ursuline College

Walsh University

Wright State University

Youngstown State University

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