Ohio 8th-worst state for nurses, study says

A nurse consults with a doctor. PHOTO/PROVIDED

A nurse consults with a doctor. PHOTO/PROVIDED

Ohio is the eighth-worst state for nurses in terms of job opportunities and the quality of their work environment, according to a new study by WalletHub.

The Buckeye State ranked No. 44 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia, based on a comparison of 18 key metrics in the nursing industry, including starting and average annual salaries, job openings, average work hours and the ratio of nurses to hospital beds.

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There are fewer job openings per capital for Ohio nurses than in most other states, and Ohio nurses face more workplace challenges, such as mandatory overtime, over-staffing and allegations of systemic disrespect, such as bullying and intimidation, according to the study, which was based, in part, on information gathered from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the American Nurses Association.

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WalletHub assigned points to each metric, then calculated the total score for each state and the District of Columbia and used the weighted average across all metrics to determine the final ranking.

Wisconsin ranked No. 1 on the list of the best states for nurses. The District of Columbia ranked last.

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