More OH nurses seek 4-year degrees

In January, Nationwide Children's Hospital began requiring new nursing hires to have a bachelor's degree or earn one within five years. Nurses already employed were grandfathered. Research suggests nurses with more advanced degrees are associated "with better rescue of patients who are deteriorating," said Linda Stoverock, Nationwide Children's chief nursing officer. Mount Carmel, OhioHealth and Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center are setting timetables to reach an Institute of Medicine goal that 80 percent of nurses have a bachelor's degree by 2020. That goal won't be reached through hiring practices alone, said Gingy Harshey-Meade, CEO of the Ohio Nurses Association. Working nurses would have to return to school.