RN to MSN Programs in Ohio

Online RN to MSN Programs in Ohio

Ohio has a number of 100% online RN to MSN programs that are designed to accommodate a working nurse’s schedule. Each College of Nursing has its own quirky admissions requirements, so we recommend you examine the profiles in our school listings to determine if you’re eligible to apply. Here are a few extra points to consider:

• Franklin University: Franklin’s generalist RN to MSN is 100% online. Coursework is delivered through distance learning and students can complete their practicum & capstone in an approved healthcare setting that’s close to their home. To mimic real world situations, Franklin uses Shadowhealth and iHuman simulation software in its online courses. The RN to MSN-FNP pathway is primarily online, but at least one MSN course contains an on-campus assessment & skills lab (16 lab hours). The FNP’s 600 practicum hours can be completed at a convenient healthcare site—students are expected to locate their own preceptors and clinical sites.
• Lourdes University: Because Lourdes isn’t offering an NP concentration, both the RN to MSN – Nurse Leader and the RN to MSN – Nurse Educator pathways are 100% online. Both programs include a final practicum & capstone.
• Xavier University: Three of Xavier’s RN to MSN concentrations are offered in a 100% online format: Forensics, General Studies & Education. Undergraduate bridge coursework and graduate coursework is delivered through distance learning components, including readings, activities, video lectures, discussion boards, tests, and group projects. Most courses do not include mandatory synchronous meeting times, but students are expected to progress through the course together.

Finally, if you live in the Cincinnati area, keep in mind that Mount St. Joseph University’s program is hybrid/blended, with only a few campus meetings for each MSN course.

Cheapest RN to MSN Programs in Ohio

Our ranking of the most affordable Ohio RN to MSN programs is based on one factor: per credit graduate tuition rates. So take it with a grain of salt! You’ll notice that each program has different transfer policies for undergraduate credits, a different number of total credits, and different fees. In a final budget, some of the more expensive schools may actually end up being cheaper for your situation.

1. Mount St. Joseph University: View Tuition Rates
2. Lourdes University: View Tuition Rates
3. Franklin University: View Tuition Rates | Xavier University: View Tuition Rates

Because all of these options are private universities, tuition rates are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. And they’re all very similar (e.g. between $600-$700 per graduate credit).

Ohio’s Healthcare Landscape

Ohio is experiencing some of the same healthcare challenges as other neighboring states in the Rust Belt. According to data from America’s Health Rankings and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), cancer deaths, diabetes deaths, and smoking rates are troublingly high. Obesity is a persistent problem—in 2018, Ohio had the sixth highest obesity youth rate in the country. And primary care access in rural counties remains well below many other states.

One of the toughest fights that Ohio doctors and APRNs have had to face is opioid addiction. From 2015-2018, drug deaths in Ohio increased by 61%. According to CDC data, in 2017, Ohio had some of the highest rates of drug overdose deaths (adjusted by population concentration) in the country. Similar stats could be seen in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. In 2018, the rate of fatal drug overdoses in Ohio dropped by more than 22%.

• In the same year, the Ohio Department of Health received a great deal of money from the Department of Health and Human Services to address the state’s addiction crisis and expand treatment services.
• In 2019, the Ohio Department of Medicaid got a $100 million budget increase for mental health services.
• And the OHA continues to address the issue through the Opioid Response Initiative.

In other words, aspiring APRNs can put their education to good use in a number of areas. Primary care providers and public health educators will find plenty of opportunities to address chronic conditions (e.g. smoking & diet). Rural NPs in Ohio can institute mobile health and telehealth initiatives to solve access problems. And PMHNPs will always be welcome in areas that have been hard-hit by opioids.

Jobs for Ohio RN to MSN Graduates

Career Outlook for RN to MSN Graduates

Happily, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) keeps a close eye on job & wage data for Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary. One look at the maps on these pages will tell you a great deal about your career options after graduation from the RN to MSN.

• For example, we’re pleased to report that Ohio has some of the highest employment levels of NPs and nursing instructors in the country. It’s often in the top 5, right up there with California and New York.
• Cincinnati is a major hub, employing around 22% of NPs and nursing instructors in the state, but Cleveland and Columbus (home of Ohio State) are not far behind.
• Even the smaller cities sustain a sizeable population of APRNs. Akron, Canton, Toledo, and Dayton are just some of the places where you’ll find job openings. In fact, Lima has one of the highest concentration of NPs in the country.

If you’re interested in a hospital position, U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of Best Hospitals in Ohio and the ANCC’s list of Magnet Facilities in Ohio are two useful resources to consult. You’ll often see some of the same names on both lists, including:

• Cleveland Clinic hospitals and the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center in Cleveland.
• Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus
• Christ Hospital in Cincinnati
• Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton
• ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Toledo

If you’re considering independent work in a rural or underserved area, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH)’s Primary Care Office has more info on Ohio’s Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P), and Governor’s Certified Shortage Ages. Furthermore, the Ohio Board of Nursing has complete details on the Ohio APRN Scope of Practice.

Career Resources for Future APRNs

Ohio Nursing Job Boards

• OAAPN Jobs Board: Openings for Ohio APRNs, including NPs, nurse educators, and nurse leaders
• OH GAPNA Career Center: Job listings for Ohio NPs (in all disciplines)
• OH Hospital Jobs: Job listings in Ohio hospitals posted by the OHA

Ohio APRN Salary & Wage Data

• Annual Mean Wages for Ohio Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations: Categories can include “Nurse Practitioners,” “Nurse Midwives,” and “Nurse Anesthetists”
• Annual Mean Wages for Ohio Nursing Instructors & Teachers, Postsecondary
• AANP National Compensation Survey: Available to AANP members

Ohio Nursing Organizations

State Board of Nursing

• State of Ohio Board of Nursing

Ohio Nursing Associations & Coalitions

• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN): Ohio Chapters
• National Black Nurses Association (NBNA): Ohio Chapters
• Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN)
• Ohio Gerontologic Advanced Practice Nurses Association (OH GAPNA)
• Ohio Hospital Association (OHA)
• Ohio Nurses Association (ONA)

Ohio Nursing Specialty Organizations

• American College of Nurse-Midwives – Ohio Affiliate (ACNM Midwives of Ohio)
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association – Ohio Chapter (APNA Ohio)
• Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses – Ohio (AWHONN Ohio)
• Ohio Association of Occupational Health Nurses (OAOHN)
• Ohio Association of School Nurses (OASN)
• Ohio Emergency Nurses Association (Ohio ENA)
• Ohio League for Nursing (OLN)
• Ohio PeriAnesthesia Nurses Association (OPANA)
• Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OSANA)
• Ohio Student Nurse’s Association (OhSNA)
• Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership (OONL)