The Board of Nursing granted full approval to Clark State College - Springfield Regional School of Nursing for a period of five years effective January 12, 2022.
“I am so incredibly happy to have received notification of our full approval from the Ohio Board of Nursing for our Associate Degree Nursing (RN) program,” said Dr. Tiffany Hunter, Provost and vice president of academic affairs at Clark State. “This approval speaks to the diligent, committed work that our faculty and leadership display daily as they educate our students and ensure they are prepared for the healthcare workforce. This recognition confirms that we are providing a quality education to our students that will benefit our community, the region, our state, and beyond.”
According to Dr. Rhoda Sommers, dean of the school of health, human and public service at Clark State, the Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN) reviews and approves all 189 pre-licensure nursing programs in the state. Every program is on a cycle of review with the longest period possible being 5 years.
“The OBN review and approval process is detailed in the Ohio Revised Code 4723-5 and the ORC details our programs curriculum, qualifications of program administrator and faculty, guidelines for policies and program records, as well as acceptable NCLEX pass rates,” said Sommers. “Our nursing programs only exist under the approval of OBN. It’s considered the state approval where ACEN is the national accreditation.”
Clark State graduates of the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing are prepared to obtain licensure and employment as a registered nurse. Graduates are also prepared to continue their education and obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing. A number of colleges and universities have designed bachelor's nursing completion programs for associate degree prepared registered nurses.