HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING
Following several years of research by local nursing leaders, the School of Nursing was established in the College of Education at Ohio University. The studies focused on the need for baccalaureate prepared nurses in southeastern Ohio. They included data regarding both the number of baccalaureate prepared nurses in the region and the number of associate degree and diploma prepared registered nurses who wished to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing. The conclusion was that there was a significant need for an upper division program in nursing for registered nurses.
The idea of an upper division nursing program for RNs was a new idea in nursing education and Ohio University was to be the first in Ohio to offer such a program. The curriculum was developed and approved by the Ohio University Curriculum Council and the School was chartered by the Ohio Board of Regents to grant a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Ohio University.
The RN-to-BSN Program at Ohio University admitted its first students in the summer of 1975. Only a few elective courses were offered that first summer. The first course offered was "The Nurse and the Law" which was attended by 102 students. At that time the faculty consisted of a director, Dr. Margaret Wyatt, and two full time faculty. In the fall another full time faculty member was welcomed and the program began accepting full time students. As the program grew more faculty were added to keep up with the demand. The first three graduates completed the program in June 1976.
On July 1, 1979, Ohio University formed its ninth college, the College of Health and Human Services. On July 1, 1980, the School of Nursing moved from the College of Education to the College of Health and Human Services. The School of Nursing was first accredited by the National League for Nursing in 1983.
The School of Nursing has continued in its original mission of making a baccalaureate degree in nursing available to the registered nurses in the 19 county area of Southeastern Ohio. In those early years, many courses were taught in regional hospitals in the evenings and on the weekends. This gave many nurses a chance to take courses in their hometown. Eventually, courses were at the regional campuses where students were able to take some of the support courses they needed and avail themselves of the library resources.
Instead of students traveling to one class each weekend, faculty members traveled to the regional campuses. In the 1980s Ohio University invested in the technology which made it possible to teach one class to several sites simultaneously. Now a faculty member traveled to one campus and taught students at that campus and two others.
As the nursing shortage made it more and more difficult for RNs to take even one day for a class that was close to home, the School of Nursing began to develop blended courses. These part in-class and part-online courses reduced travel time to class by half. Based on student input and data that indicated comparable learning, the move to a totally online delivery strategy occurred in 2005. Online class delivery is the current delivery mechanism.
The School has expanded its original mission by joining with the associate’s degree in nursing program (ADN) and adding a master’s program (MSN). Both of these events occurred in 2004. All nursing programs at Ohio University now form one School of Nursing which makes the transition from one program to the next easier for students.
As the nursing shortage made it more and more difficult for RNs to take even one day for a class that was close to home, the School of Nursing began to develop blended courses. These part-in class and part-online courses reduced travel time to class by half. Based on studnet input and data that indicated comparable learning, the move to a totally online delivery strategy occurred in 2005.
Online class delivery is the current delivery mechanism.
* "Projected needs for Nursing Education in Ohio: A Report to the Board of Regents", Ohio Nurses Association, Columbus, OH 1964.
* "A Study of Professional Nursing Needs in Southeastern Ohio", funded under Special Project Grants Program, Nurse Education and Training Branch, National Institutes of Health, completed January, 1972.