FoundationAnnualReport2022

classroom education, simulation laboratory, and clinical experience. Unique to the Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing is that the faculty and teaching assistants provide the instruction in all three phases of the program, which provides more consistency for the students. “We pride ourselves on being a small school with individualized learning,” emphasizes Amy Rockwell, MSN, RN, manager of the Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing. The school is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing. The nursing school offers students over 700 hours of hands-on clinical experience in various settings. They work closely with nurses throughout Firelands Regional Medical Center to develop interprofessional communication and teamwork skills. During the clinical portion of their training, students focus on developing clinical judgment skills and learning how to gather and interpret patient data to create a care plan for the patient. Because the nursing school is based at Firelands Regional Medical Center, students do not have to wait for placement at clinical sites. They are offered experiences in quality and safety, nursing management, and community outreach. In addition, the Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing receives strong support from the administration, board of trustees, and physicians. Students come from all over the region and from across the country. Rebecca Lamons, who is graduating in May, is from California. “I was looking for a program where the cost of living was more affordable than in California. Everyone was very kind and welcoming The Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing’s long heritage of training highly skilled nurses began in 1905, with the founding of the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Sandusky by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. During its 118-year history, the school has graduated over 2,000 nurses and established a well-earned reputation for excellence in nursing education. Today, the Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing is ranked 16th of the 96 registered nurse programs in Ohio. Two educational options are available for students: a three-year nursing diploma program or an LPN to RN program. Students who complete the three- year program receive an RN diploma in nursing from Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing, which qualifies them to take the registered nurse licensure examination. Graduates also receive a non-nursing associate degree from Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Firelands. LPN to RN program graduates receive an RN nursing diploma and complete four college courses through BGSU Firelands, which assists with future advancement in their nursing education. Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing partners with BGSU and BGSU Firelands to provide students with opportunities for college coursework and a smooth transition into the RN to BSN program. “Of the 30 to 50 students who graduate each year with their RN diploma, 50 to 60 percent choose to stay in the area and work at Firelands,” says Dawn Wikel, MSN, RN, CNE, director of the Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing. “We also have a 100 percent placement rate for those who pass the licensure exam.” There are three parts to the students’ training: A Reputation for E CELLENCE Firelands Regional Medical Center School of Nursing 12