Registered nurses (RN) are in high demand nationwide, including in Ohio. This article will review the steps needed to become an RN, the average nurse salary in Cincinnati, OH, and potential job opportunities for RNs in this area.
What is an RN?
An RN, or registered nurse, is a licensed healthcare professional that assumes a wide range of responsibilities regarding patient care. RNs educate patients and their families on various disease states, assess potential health problems, administer medications, and advocate for their patients’ best interests. They also develop, deliver, and evaluate nursing plans of care and, as such, play a crucial role in overall care coordination for patients.
To become an RN, you must complete a nursing degree program such as Arizona College of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After completing a program, graduates are then eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX).
Passing the NCLEX board examination allows individuals to formally call themselves a Registered Nurse or RN and apply for a nursing license in their chosen state.
Average Nursing Salary in Cincinnati, Ohio
The average nurse salary in Ohio is very competitive, and even new graduates enjoy high earnings, especially in the Cincinnati area. In addition, nurses across the Ohio River in Covington, KY, are well compensated.
How much do RNs make in Cincinnati?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average RN salary in Cincinnati, OH, is $80,740 annually, or $38.82 per hour. Nearby in Kentucky, the average RN salary is $77,620 or $37.20 per hour.
Comparatively, the average salary for all occupations in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan area is $58,730 or $28.23 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. RNs therefore enjoy significantly higher wages compared to the rest of the local population, making nursing a rewarding career choice for this area.
Nursing Careers in Cincinnati
As a busy metropolitan area, Cincinnati has plenty of employment opportunities for nurses, which are also easily accessible to prospective nurses and nursing students in Covington, KY.
Where do RNs work in Cincinnati?
Cincinnati has several large hospital systems, specialty clinics, and many long-term care facilities. Arizona College of Nursing’s 3-year BSN program prepares graduates for entry-level practice in these fields.
Whether you are interested in an acute care or ambulatory setting, there is no shortage of job options in Cincinnati or Kentucky, and these options will continue to grow.
Nurses also enjoy great flexibility within their careers. In addition to day shift options, nurses have various work opportunities, including evening shifts, overnight shifts, weekends, and holidays at many healthcare institutions. Most employers offer shift differentials, or more pay per hour, for working non-day shifts, which can significantly increase your RN salary in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky.
What kind of job growth is there for RNs in Cincinnati, Ohio?
O*NET OnLine projects that job growth for nurses will be positive nationally and in the Cincinnati area over the next decade.
Over the next ten years, the expected job growth for nurses in The United States is estimated to be 4-7% by 2031. This projection translates into what could be over 200,000 available nursing positions across the country in 2031.
In Ohio, nurses could see a 7% job growth within the profession, with almost 8,000 openings in the state by 2031.
Additionally, Kentucky is projected to outpace Ohio and the average across the country, with an estimated job growth for nurses of 9% by 2031.
Do you need a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing to be a nurse in Cincinnati?
While some entry-level nursing roles do not require a full bachelor’s degree, various nursing organizations, government agencies, and other healthcare foundations formally recognize the unique skills baccalaureate-prepared nurses bring to practice and encourage employers to adopt the BSN as their standard for entry-level nursing.8
Additionally, according to The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, BSN-prepared nurses consistently provide higher-quality care. They are better equipped to manage complex patient challenges and achieve superior patient outcomes. While other options for entry-level nursing practice exist, the BSN makes the most sense from a prospective student standpoint and provides greater opportunity.
With positive job growth, employment stability, and excellent pay, nursing is a terrific career choice. We invite you to explore our high-quality, CCNE-accredited BSN nursing program here at Arizona College of Nursing’s Cincinnati campus to see how you can kickstart your path toward a rewarding career in nursing.
Author Bio
Tana Bao MSN, FNP-BC, NP-C, APRN
Tana Bao is an experienced advanced practice registered nurse. She earned her BSN from The University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2016 and her MSN from Thomas Jefferson University in 2019. She is board certified to practice as a family nurse practitioner with both The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (NP-C) and The American Nurses Credentialing Center (FNP-BC). Clinically, she has worked in various medical settings including family planning, women’s health, sleep medicine, and primary care. She now also writes professionally as a health content writer and journalist and is also pursuing a post master’s certificate in nursing education.
Start Your Future in Nursing Today at our Cincinnati Campus
If you’re considering a career as a registered nurse (RN), Arizona College of Nursing is here to help you pursue your dream. Our BSN program enables you to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 3 years or less with qualifying transfer credits. We’ve helped hundreds of students to earn a BSN degree and enter the nursing profession – and we’re ready to support you on your path to becoming an RN.
Why Choose Arizona College of Nursing?
- Earn a BSN degree in 3 years or less with eligible transfer credits
- Campus locations throughout the US
- Night classes for general education courses
- Hybrid Online/In-Person format for general education classes
- Nursing education is all we do
- CCNE-Accredited Program*
- NCLEX-RN success coaches and exam preparation class
- Financial aid available to those who qualify
Discover Your Path to a Career in Nursing
Citations
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, USS Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Kentucky
- O*NET OnLine, Ohio Employment Trends Registered Nurses.
- O*NET OnLine, Kentucky Employment Trends Registered Nurses.
- O*NET OnLine, Registered Nurses.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The Impact of Nursing Education on Nursing Practice
Information in this post is accurate as of .
*The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at Arizona College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/). All Arizona College of Nursing and Arizona College campuses are institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (https://www.abhes.org/), a U.S. Department of Education-recognized national accrediting agency.