Nursing
Nursing(RN) (NUR)
High demand in the Greater Cincinnati area makes nursing a good career choice for academically strong, caring individuals who are interested in working in the health care industry. In addition to providing direct care to clients, registered nurses delegate care to and supervise care provided by other nursing staff members. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the national standardized nursing examination (NCLEX-RN) and, upon passing, may work as registered nurses (RNs). A separate curriculum track prepares the licensed practical nurse (LPN) for RN licensure eligibility.
Graduates are prepared to:
- Work in a variety of settings, from acute care units to extended health care facilities
- Work with clients of various ages, from children to the elderly
Credentialing
Graduates must past NCLEX-RN, the national standardized nursing examination, to practice as a registered nurse.
Articulation Agreements/Strong Transfer History
Graduates have continued their education by pursuing BSNs at the following local schools:
- College of Mount St. Joseph
- Kettering Medical College of Ohio
- Miami University
- Northern Kentucky University
- University of Cincinnati
- Xavier University
Representative Clinical Sites or Co-op Sites
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Drake Center
Health Alliance
Mercy Health Partners of Southwest Ohio
St. Elizabeth Medical Center
Summit Behavioral Center
TriHealth, Inc.
Co-op Salary Projections
$11.25/hour. Shift differential is often added to this. Co-op is a summer elective course.
Employment Outlook
The Tri-State area reflects the national nursing shortage. Some hospital systems in the Greater Cincinnati area are paying sign-on bonuses.
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
$33,000–$42,000 annually. Shift differential is added to this.
Accreditations
The Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 11006, phone (800) 669-1656, and the Ohio State Board of Nursing, 17 S. High Street, Suite 400, Columbus, OH 43215-3413, phone (614) 466-3947.
Special Admission Requirements
The core of courses taken by the nursing students is similar to the core of courses taken by all other health degree program students, although nursing students are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, as well as a 2.5 GPA for the first two terms of the curriculum to enter the third term of the curriculum.
High school or college biology and chemistry is a prerequisite to the nursing program.
All students (except LPN to RN students) must be Ohio state-tested nurse aides prior to beginning clinical courses. The required coursework is available at the College. LPN to RN students are required to have 1,000 hours of recent work experience providing direct patient care. See the Cincinnati State catalog for full program admission information. Please note: Graduation candidates must pass a nationally standardized exit exam in order to graduate from the nursing program.
Nursing-LPN to RN (NURP)
A special track for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) with recent experience in hospitals or skilled long-term facilities exists as an opportunity to complete the course of study leading to an associate’s degree. Interested individuals should request information through the pre-technology nursing advisor or NURP program chair.
Employment Outlook
Graduates of the program are hired by graduation or shortly thereafter.
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
$35,000–$40,000 annually
Nursing LPN-RN program curriculum
Practical Nursing Certificate (PNC)
Licensed practical nurses share in the responsibility of patient care within the established guidelines of the Nurse Practice Act. The Practical Nursing certificate program prepares students through correlated theory and clinical practice in the area of basic nursing skills, maternal and infant care adult and child health, gerontological nursing, mental health concepts, and community health.
Graduates of this program are eligible to take the national standardized practical nursing examination (NCLEX-PN) and, upon passing, may work as licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Graduates of this program who are interested in becoming RNs may continue in Cincinnati State’s LPN to associate degree in nursing program.
Click here to learn more about the Practical Nursing certificate.
Graduates are prepared to:
- Work in a variety of settings including long-term care facilities, clinics, physician offices, hospice, home care, schools, and hospitals
- Work with clients of various ages, from children to the elderly
Credentialing
Graduates must past NCLEX-PN, the national standardized practical nursing examination, to practice as a licensed practical nurse.
Representative Clinical Sites
Brown County General Hospital
Carington Health System
The Christ Hospital
Cincinnati Public Schools
Deaconess Hospital
Health Alliance
Mercy Health Partners
Summit Behavioral Center
TriHealth Inc.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Employment Outlook
The Tri-State area reflects the national nursing shortage. The majority of LPNs work in long-term care facilities with a significant number also working in clinics, physician offices, schools, home care and hospice with limited LPNs working in hospitals.
Graduate Starting Salary Projections
$17-$23.50/hour
Accreditations
The Nursing Program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc. (NLNAC), 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, NY 11006, phone (800) 669-1656, and the Ohio State Board of Nursing, 17 S. High Street, Suite 400, Columbus, OH 43215-3413, phone (614) 466-3947.
Special Admission Requirements
All courses, both general education and practical nursing courses, are offered sequentially during the program. The clinical experience is integrated throughout the program once a student receives placement into a specific class by their academic advisor. This allows students to complete the day program in five consecutive terms and the evening program in seven consecutive terms.
A minimum grade of C is required for all courses in the practical nursing program.
BIO 4071 – Concept of Biology 1 – is a prerequisite to BIO 4073 – Concepts of Biology 3 unless a high school or college biology has been taken in the last seven years. Both BIO 4071 and BIO 4073 are offered within the nursing program.
All students must be state-tested nursing assistants (STNA) prior to placement into a class. The required STNA coursework is available at Cincinnati State and Great Oaks.
CBI&I and FBI criminal background checks (CBC) must be completed within six months of admission to the specific practical nursing certificate class as assigned by the PNC academic advisor. A criminal record may prevent an applicant from admission into the practical nursing program or prevent the student from qualifying for licensing in Ohio or other states. Any felony conviction will prevent admission into the PNC program.
Cincinnati State’s Office of Admission admits students to the Practical Nursing certificate program but the PNC academic advisor must meet with each student to place them in a specific PNC class at one of the four Great Oaks campuses.
Once a student is placed in a specific PNC class, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the following as soon as possible but at least three weeks prior to the beginning of first term of their assigned class:
- Completed health record form
- All required immunizations are current with titers as appropriate
- Current professional rescuer or health care provider CPR card
All students are required to attend the Practical Nursing Certificate class orientation.
Any student who does not meet the approve requirements will forfeit her/his seat.
Practical Nursing program curriculum
