More Ohio Nurses Seek 4-Year Degress
July 16, 2012
When they’re not at a bedside, record numbers of Ohio nurses have been hitting the books. Nationwide, enrollment of registered nurses in bachelor ’s of science degree programs soared to nearly 90,000 last year, a 76 percent increase from 2007, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
And in Ohio, enrollment in so -called RN-to-BSN programs increased more than fourfold, from 1,686 in 2008 to 7,780 in 2011. The association said those numbers are voluntarily reported and are likely undercounts. Ohio’s public universities awarded 1,918 bachelor ’s degrees in nursing in 2010. That’s more than double the 906 degrees awarded in 2002, according to the Ohio Board of Regents.
Why? Employers are encouraging it.