How to Get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing in Ohio?
Jan 12, 2015 | 10:00 am
Preparation
High school is completed with a solid grade point average and now on for the nursing degree. What is involved in getting an Associate’s Degree in Nursing in Ohio? Well, the first thing is to find a solid and accredited nursing school or community college that is recognized by the Ohio Board of Nursing. Researching options and asking about financial assistance, grants and/or scholarships that you may be qualify for.
The class load for getting an Associate’s Degree in nursing will depend on the student. While some might only take two years, others may take a lighter class load and may take up to 4 years. Some of the classes that will be required are general courses such as English and basic math. Other courses will be nutrition, biology, microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, physiology, as well as algebra and nursing fundamentals. In these classes, you will learn about medical laws, doctor/patient confidentiality, medical ethics, medical terminology, record keeping, procedures and processes, administrative duties, surgical procedures and so on. There will be class and clinical components with different environments and different types of people. Once the Associate’s Degree is completed, the students must pass the National Council Licensure Examination also known as NCLEX. Once this examination has been passed and the student has obtained his or her license, they are ready for the workforce.
Top Employers
As with any field, there are also the best employers to work for. This will depend on region or location, education and level of experience, if any. For example, if a student attends nursing school and has several years as a medical assistant he or she sometimes will be considered as having a little more experience.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average growth rate in the field of nursing is projected to be about 19% between from 2012 to 2022; however, this can vary from location to location and how fast the population growth is for that area. The lower percentile for yearly salary is around $45,000 per year with the median percentile making around $65,000 per year and the higher percentile making as much as $95,000 per year.
The top employers in Ohio are the Cleveland Clinic, Miami Valley Hospital, Mount Carmel West, Ohio State University Hospital and Riverside Methodist Hospital. The professional associations that are related to the Ohio nursing profession are the Ohio Board of Nursing, the Ohio Nurses Association, the Ohio Hospital Association and the Northwest Ohio Hospital Association. Those in the field of nursing will be affiliated with one or more of the organizations mentioned above.
Conclusion
A nurse will work long hours, many times 12-hour rotating shifts. Trauma nurses and surgical nurses may be on call in 24-hour shifts. Holidays and weekends are also required. The medical field is stressful; fast paced and extremely demanding. In a doctor’s office or clinical setting, most days are somewhat routine, but trauma nurses never know what might come through those doors next. They must be ready for anything at all times, being able to make extremely fast decisions with the utmost skill and accuracy. Saving lives is truly rewarding, but all cannot be saved all the time.