Employment of registered nurses (RNs) is projected to rise by 6% between 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the national average growth projected for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). RNs are essential healthcare providers who are tasked with delivering quality care to patients in a wide range of settings. They’re responsible for tasks that range from assessing patients’ needs to implementing and managing their treatment.
The growing demand for healthcare services as the population ages is one of the main reasons cited by the BLS for the expected increase in the need for skilled RNs.
How long does it take for a nursing student to complete an RN program in Cincinnati, Ohio, and what does that entail? Graduating from a nursing program in Cincinnati empowers aspiring RNs to use their knowledge and skills to provide quality patient care of members of their local community.
RN Duties and Responsibilities
Registered nurses’ specific duties and responsibilities can vary depending on their state, type of facility, and level of experience. However, most RNs carry out the following critical tasks on a daily or near-daily basis:
Recordkeeping: RNs record their patients’ medical histories, symptoms, and vital signs. Effective recordkeeping helps healthcare professionals not only deliver the best possible care in the present but also be prepared to provide quality care in the future.
Administering Treatments: Under a physician’s order, RNs can administer treatments directly to their patients. This may involve cleaning and dressing their wounds, inserting catheters, and administering medications orally, via injection, or intravenously.
Collaborating: RNs work together with other members of the healthcare team to ensure their patients receive the highest quality care that can lead to desirable patient outcomes.
Diagnostic Testing: Nurses aid doctors and other staff in diagnosing their patients through comprehensive testing. This includes checking patients’ vital signs and collecting samples for analysis in a laboratory.
Operating Medical Equipment: Nurses use many types of tools and machinery in the process of caring for patients. These include blood pressure measurement tools, thermometers, pulse oximeters, glucometers, and ventilation equipment.
Educating Patients: Nurses often assume the role of educator with their patients, explaining their diagnosis to them and how they can manage their symptoms.
Advocating for Patients: Nurses serve as advocates for their patients in multiple ways. They translate medical information, connect patients with resources, and ensure that other healthcare providers are aware of patients’ concerns.
RN Soft Skills
Some of the most important soft skills for RNs are communication and interpersonal skills, which directly influence nurses’ interactions with their co-workers and patients. RNs need to have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and they also need to be able to listen carefully to other healthcare providers, their patients, and their patients’ families or caregivers.
Teamwork, empathy, and critical thinking skills also are crucial for RNs, particularly when they need to perform quick assessments and make life-changing decisions for their patients’ well-being.
Ethics and professionalism are important as well, required for protecting not only patients’ health and safety but also their rights and dignity.
RN Hard Skills
As part of their nursing education, RNs will develop hard skills in many areas, including the following:
Emergency Management: Emergencies can happen anywhere, even outside of emergency and urgent care departments. Having the skills to respond correctly to these situations can save lives.
Patient Education: Patients and their families look to nurses for information about their treatments, injuries or illnesses, posttreatment and at-home care, pain management, and infection control.
Technology: Operating computers and maintaining electronic health records is essential to providing care in any modern high-tech healthcare system.
Medical Care: The ability to care for wounds, administer medications, and help patients with all manner of bedside treatment is crucial.
Length of an RN Program in Cincinnati
The two primary degree paths for aspiring RNs are the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs. Both programs provide prospective RNs with the foundational skills required to enter the field and work in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and private practices.
Generally speaking, the BSN is a four-year degree, while the ADN can be completed in as little as two academic years. An ADN program can be a flexible and affordable choice, allowing aspiring nurses to enter the workforce in less time than it would take to earn a BSN.
At many institutions, coursework for either program may be offered on campus, online, or a combination of the two. At Fortis, the ADN program has hybrid delivery with a combination of on campus and online courses
RN Program Requirements at Fortis College in Cincinnati
The requirements for entering an ADN program are usually relatively easy to meet. There are no prerequisite courses required to enroll in the ADN program at the Fortis College campus in Cincinnati. Candidates must be high school graduates or hold a recognized GED. Prospective students are required to take the Wonderlic SLE aptitude test prior to enrolling in the program. As part of the admission process, prospective students meet with staff to discuss their career goals to help determine if the Fortis ADN program is the right program for their needs.
Benefits of Attending an RN Program in Cincinnati
The benefits of completing an RN program in Cincinnati are many, but the primary benefit is the volume of employment opportunities for nurses in and around the Cincinnati metropolitan area. In fact, O*NET projects that employment of RNs in Ohio will increase by 7% from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than the national projected job growth of RNs.
Additionally, Newsweek ranked six Cincinnati hospitals among the world’s best, as of early 2024. Some of the largest employers of RNs in Cincinnati are Mercy Health, UC Medical Center, Mount Auburn’s Christ Hospital, and Jewish Hospital.
The state of Ohio in general offers a low cost of living and moderate hourly wages when compared to other locations across the country, which helps to make Cincinnati an attractive place to live and raise a family for those in the nursing profession.
Keep Cincinnati Healthy With an RN Degree From Fortis College
Understanding the requirements and length of time to complete an RN program in Cincinnati can be the first step in your journey toward becoming a qualified and skilled healthcare provider in the Cincinnati area. The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Fortis College in Cincinnati makes the career path attainable and affordable for aspiring nurses while providing an excellent foundation for your future education.
Learn more about how our ADN program can prepare you to keep Cincinnati and the surrounding communities safer, healthier, and happier.
Recommended Readings
What Are the Different Types of Nurses?
LPN vs. RN: What’s the Difference?
What Is the Fastest Way to Become a Nurse?