YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Addressing nursing shortages, enrollment at the Centofanti School of Nursing at Youngstown State University grew more than 80% in the past five years, making it one of the largest majors on campus.
According to Dr. Nancy Wagner, director of the YSU nursing school, the school currently enrolls 415 undergraduates and 345 graduate students, preparing them for a popular career with higher wages, various opportunities and upward mobility.
In 2021, YSU launched the associate degree in nursing program due to significant interest and the need for a larger RN workforce in the area. A new skills and simulation lab was created for the program.
More than 70% of the Bachelor of Science in nursing graduates remained here to work in local hospitals and health care facilities, according to Wagner. Additionally, prior to graduation, BSN students each complete nearly 300,000 clinical hours locally.
Students assist the United Way to provide vision screenings, take blood pressures at the Canfield Fair, assist health departments and do international missions.