BGSU nursing students are highly sought-after, with most landing jobs months before graduation

Hannah Tullock is among the 75% of students who accept conditional job offers before earning their degrees

By Laren Kowalczyk ‘07

Bowling Green State University senior Hannah Tullock is among a growing number of students in the School of Nursing who have secured full-time jobs well before graduation, a nod to the caliber of the program and University in preparing students for in-demand careers.

Tullock will join the cardiovascular trauma intensive care unit at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo — a full-circle moment for the Bowling Green native who developed a passion for nursing and cardiovascular health after caring for her grandmother following a six artery bypass heart surgery.

“BGSU does a phenomenal job teaching us both the technical procedures and the reasoning behind them, which prepares us to be skilled and thoughtful nurses,” she said. “We are incredibly prepared through constant repetition in the skills and simulation lab and during clinicals.” 

Since enrolling its first cohort of students in 2021, the BGSU School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Services has built an impressive reputation for producing highly qualified graduates prepared for the demands of today’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Nearly 100% of BGSU nursing students are employed at graduation, with about three-fourths securing conditional job offers months before earning their degrees. Dr. Shelly Bussard, director of the School of Nursing, expects that trend to continue.

“BGSU students are highly sought-after healthcare professionals,” Bussard said. “BGSU established the standalone School of Nursing as a direct response to workforce needs. Since day one, our goal has been to provide a consistent pipeline of highly qualified nurses to fill crucial workforce needs in Ohio and beyond, and we’ve been very successful in that endeavor.”

In addition to rigorous preparation, the nursing program regularly invites healthcare representatives to campus to speak to nursing students about career opportunities as part of the University’s commitment to positioning students for professional success.

Those visits have led to several students completing externships and accepting jobs at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.

The BGSU nursing program, known for its knowledgeable professors and supportive environment, has grown consistently over the past three years and is now the largest enrolled BSN program in northwestern Ohio.

There are nearly 200 students across three cohorts enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in nursing degree program and another 400 freshmen and sophomores in the pre-nursing program, which prepares students to apply for admission into the School of Nursing during their junior year.

Tullock enrolled at BGSU in 2022 with 30 credits completed during her senior year in high school through the College Credit Plus program, putting her a year ahead of many of her nursing school peers.

She will graduate in May after just three years at BGSU. In that short time, Tulluck has amassed numerous achievements, including receiving the leadership award from the BGSU chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, an international honor society for nursing, and leading the BGSU Student Nurses’ Association as president.

Upon passing her nursing licensure exam, Tullock, who has worked as a state-tested nursing assistant since she was 17, will begin her job at St. Vincent Medical Center, where she has worked since last January.

“I’ve always wanted to work at St. Vincent, and I have gotten such great experience working in their various ICUs,” Tullock said. “I am so excited for my future in cardiovascular health and trauma. It’s a competitive unit to get into, especially this early in your career. 

“My grandma is excited, too. She and my mom are my No. 1 cheerleaders. My grandma is very proud that she inspired me to follow this career path.”