There can be no doubt about the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on the profession of nursing. A study recently released by The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) points to factors including burnout and stress that have made lasting impacts on the profession.

by Wendy Bowles, Margaret Graham and Portia Zaire

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed both the importance of and deficiencies in our healthcare system, including our primary care infrastructure. And beyond a shadow of a doubt, it has spotlighted the need for registered nurses to play a larger role in serving patients in primary care settings.

Ohio State University is working to address the supply and demand issue through the launch of a “Path2BSN” community college option. The program was designed to help boost the proportion of nurses with a bachelor’s degree in Central Ohio.

Path2BSN allows students from seven Central Ohio community colleges – including Columbus State – to transfer seamlessly into Ohio State’s online registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing program, saving them money and time, said Wendy Bowles, assistant professor of clinical nursing in the College of Nursing.