With the Affordable Healthcare Act and its implications on healthcare structures, the burden of healthcare looks poised to shift onto the shoulders of midlevel providers like nurses, nurse practitioners, and allied staff. Therefore, the role of the registered nurse will only become more critical in ensuring the continued health of the American population.
There are four routes to become a registered nurse in Ohio: hospital diploma, two-year associate’s degree, four-year bachelor’s degree, and direct-entry master’s degree. Hospital diplomas, while less common today, are the oldest form of nursing training. Hospital diplomas are intensive hospital-based training programs, combining science education with hands-on practical learning and training. They are offered at a handful of Ohio institutions, including Tri-Rivers Career Center and the Ohio Institute of Allied Health.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 100,000-strong corps of registered nurses in Ohio report a median annual salary of $60,530, with the middle fifty percent of salaries ranging between $52,760 and $70,830. Registered nurses in Ohio are not restricted to working in hospital settings; they can work in a variety of other institutions including schools, prisons, hospitals, hospices, and even insurance firms. Some of the major local employers of nurses include the State of Ohio (schools, prisons, and social services), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Aetna. There is definitely fulfilling employment available for those who become registered nurses.
To help those interested in embarking on an RN pre-licensure program, we have compiled a comprehensive list of Ohio’s accredited registered nursing schools.