Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News
Wright State University senior nursing students — its largest graduating class ever — will be able to help fight the coronavirus pandemic sooner than expected, thanks to the emergency use of temporary licenses.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill that temporarily suspends the requirement that nursing graduates pass their state exam before being allowed to practice to help alleviate the need for nurses.
“This is great news for the nurses and the community as they will be able to get out to help with this pandemic sooner than we expected,” said Deborah Ulrich, interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health. “It is even more exciting as the May 2020 class of B.S.N. graduates is the biggest class ever for Wright State University, with 120 students. This will be a huge help to our community as they fight COVID-19.”
The Ohio State Board of Nursing also said it would allow students who have some clinical work left to complete the necessary work virtually. As the Wright State nursing students were able to finish their clinical work doing virtual activities and simulations, the graduating nursing class will graduate on time, Ulrich said.
Although the students will not be activated until at least graduation, Ulrich said the students are excited about jump-starting their career after the second week of May.
“This is what they wanted to do and they’re very excited that they’re going to get to be involved,” Ulrich said.
Most nursing grads will not be directly in the ICU, Ulrich said, but they will be part of the frontline health-care team.
