Oklahoma Nursing Colleges, Degrees & Licenses
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“Beyond treating their illnesses, you get to know patients as individuals, learning about their lives, environments, and families, all of which affect their health.”
Annalou Stasilli, APRN-CNS, DNP, Founder of Care Management Solutions
The nursing profession is confronted with a number of significant challenges in the early 21st century. Some of these challenges include an ever evolving operational landscape, technological change, a profound demographic shift necessitating rethinking models of care and resource allocation, and insufficient investment in nursing education programs.
Like many states, Oklahoma is experiencing significant stress within its nursing workforce. Oklahoma’s current demand for nurses is immense, yet it recently ranked forty-sixth in its per-capita number of RNs. Factors contributing to workforce strain include the state’s changing population demographic, workforce attrition due to aging out of the workforce, the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lack of nursing personnel in rural areas, and an exploding need for more bilingual nurses. The healthcare and social services industries have been the state’s largest industries since 2008. Given the current demand for healthcare professionals and related services, this reality is likely to persist.
Despite these multiple difficulties, Oklahoma is taking proactive steps to address challenges in its nursing workforce. For example, to address its shortage of nursing professionals qualified to educate the next generation of nursing professionals, nursing programs are taking various steps to make advanced education more accessible and appealing.
One example of such an effort is the OU Health Degree Accelerator Program. Providing the resources necessary to motivate more nursing professionals to complete advanced degrees is vital as more advanced education is positively correlated to better patient care outcomes and is also necessary to increase the pool of professionals qualified to become educators of future nursing professionals.
As elsewhere in the United States, Oklahoma’s population is also aging. As more residents need geriatric care, the state’s workforce must adapt to this change. One common challenge for elderly patients is mobility. Overcoming this challenge suggests that the healthcare delivery models will need to change. In the coming years, a larger percentage of the state’s healthcare services will need to be dedicated to home care, elder daycare, and long-term care. This demographic shift will offer substantial opportunities for nurses specializing in geriatric patient care.
Read on to discover Oklahoma’s top undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, salary expectations, and licensing requirements for nursing careers.
Meet the Expert: Annalou Stasilli, APRN-CNS, DNP, CCM
Dr. Annalou Stasilli is the founder of Care Management Solutions and a registered nurse and certified case manager in Oklahoma. She recently graduated from the OU Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing with a DNP degree, becoming an adult geriatric clinical nurse specialist (AG-CNS).
With 15 years of nursing experience, primarily in community-based care management, Dr. Stasilli leverages her unique expertise to enhance the health and well-being of older adults living with chronic conditions in Oklahoma. She focuses on working with this population in home and community settings, aiming to improve their overall quality of life.
NursingColleges.com: What is something people don’t know about being a registered nurse (RN) or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN)?
Dr. Stasilli: One thing people might not realize about being a registered nurse is how truly fulfilling it is on a personal level. It’s an amazing profession where your patients leave a lasting impact on you. I still think about some of my past patients and wonder how they’re doing.
Many people may not understand the deep connections and relationships you form with your patients in this role. It’s almost an intimate relationship because you share their healthcare journey, hear things they don’t tell others, and experience unique moments with them. This intimacy allows you to know them in ways no one else does, which stays with you.
Beyond treating their illnesses, you get to know patients as individuals, learning about their lives, environments, and families, all of which affect their health. This aspect of nursing—truly getting to know people and understanding how their personal lives influence their health—was something I didn’t fully grasp before becoming a nurse.
NursingColleges.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective nursing student?
Dr. Stasilli: Including mastering prerequisites and maintaining good grades, it’s crucial to prioritize self-care from the very beginning. As a student, you need to make time for self-care, even if you’re not familiar with it. Read up on self-care practices because nursing can be an emotionally demanding job. It’s essential to take care of your needs first; you must be okay before you can effectively care for your patients.
My advice is to figure out what you love to do for self-care because nursing school will consume much of your time, and being a nurse can also be all-encompassing at times. Setting aside time for yourself and ensuring you’re okay will ultimately make you a better nurse.
Accredited Undergraduate Nursing Programs in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Wesleyan University offers a fully online bachelor of science in nursing degree program. This program trains students in both the technical skills and scientific competencies necessary to become skilled professional nurses. Students also complete foundational coursework in the humanities. Regardless of the subject, all courses are “taught through the lens of biblical truth.” Graduates of the program thus also emerge ready to provide care for patients’ spiritual well-being. Students may further enhance their spiritual growth and professional preparation through the OKWU Nursing Christian Fellowship student ministry group.
This 33-credit degree program uses a cohort learning model. Its asynchronous format allows students to complete their courses any time on any day of the week. Courses are eight weeks in length. In addition to traditional coursework featuring lectures, students develop their caregiving skills in the school’s simulation lab. Lab training presents students with numerous potential nursing care scenarios and an annual department-wide disaster drill.
- Location: Bartlesville, OK and Tulsa, OK
- Duration: Approximately 21 months (88 weeks)
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
University of Central Oklahoma
The University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), also known as Oklahoma’s Metropolitan University, offers high-quality, nationally respected programs to meet the needs of students pursuing various careers. The university, which was founded in 1890, holds the distinction of being the state’s teacher’s college. In other words, this is the school where future educators would go to learn how to teach the next generation of students. UCO features one of Oklahoma’s largest nursing schools. Its 2021 BSN graduating class was over one hundred students.
UCO features some training options, including a traditional BSN, an RN-BSN, and a fast-track program. The traditional BSN program is a four-year program requiring completion of 124 credit hours. A less intensive five-year version of the BSN program is also available. The RN-BSN option is a fully online program featuring eight-week-long courses that can be completed full- or part-time. Students must complete 24 credits of nursing coursework and a minimum of 30 credits must have been completed at UCO.
Finally, the fast track program is for students with bachelor’s degrees in a non-nursing field who wish to transition to a nursing career. Students may complete this program in as little as 16 months.
- Location: Edmond, OK
- Duration: One to five years, depending on the program and pace of study
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The University of Oklahoma (OU) Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing is a highly respected nursing education provider at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels.
OU follows a vision of revolutionizing nursing education, research and practice to increase the profession’s visibility and improve individual patient outcomes and health equity across the general population. Nursing programs are designed and operated according to several core values, including creativity, opportunity, belonging, excellence, honesty, and respect.
OU offers four different options for students seeking nursing education at the baccalaureate level. These are a traditional BSN program, an accelerated program, an LPN-BSN program, and an RN-BSN program. The accelerated program, the ABSN program, is designed for students with bachelor’s degrees in a non-nursing field. Its 60 credit hour requirement can be completed in as little as 14 months of focused study. The LPN-BSN program is for LPNs seeking to complete a BSN and thereby expand their career options. Students of this track complete 60 credit hours in which 30 of those hours are earned via advanced standing examination. The RN-BSN program is another track designed to expand the career options of existing nursing professionals. This 30-credit program is offered online, allows for flexible clinical practicum hours, and may be completed in as little as two semesters.
- Location: Primary campus in Oklahoma City, OK; four additional campuses throughout the state
- Duration: 14 months to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Oklahoma State University (OSU) is recognized as one of the best universities in Oklahoma. OSU offers two degree pathways for students seeking baccalaureate-level nursing education: a traditional BSN program and an online RN-BSN option. Regardless of track, students complete a program emphasizing evidence-based practice and clinical training in diverse settings.
The traditional program is designed to be completed over four years. Students first complete 59 credit hours of prerequisite coursework composed of general education and science courses. In their last semester, students must submit a secondary application to begin taking nursing-specific coursework before completing prerequisite courses. Students complete six hundred hours of clinical experience with patients in both rural and urban settings. A fully equipped simulation lab is also expected to become available in 2024.
The fully online RN-BSN program is designed to provide the flexibility working professionals need to complete additional education while managing multiple responsibilities. This completion degree is only offered to transfer students who are current registered nurses. Coursework includes nursing theory, global health, epidemiology, gerontology, research and community nursing, and a capstone course. Students also accrue academic credit for their required clinical training component. This program may be completed in as little as nine months.
- Location: Stillwater, OK
- Duration: Nine months to four years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The University of Tulsa (TU) offers several nursing program options. Its small student body results in a low student-to-faculty ratio that often enhances a student’s learning experience. The three undergraduate nursing programs available are the traditional BSN program, an accelerated BSN program, and an RN-BSN program.
The traditional program is a pre-licensure program featuring robust coursework and current technologies, protocols, and related practices. Students complete 125 credits, which consists of the general curriculum, nursing foundation, nursing major, and elective courses. The accelerated BSN (ABSN) is a fully online program for working professionals and other adult learners with bachelor’s degrees in non-nursing. This program may be completed in as little as 18 months. Please note that TU does not accept ABSN applications from every state in the USA. Nurses seeking to move into leadership roles often pursue the online RN-BSN program. This program’s curriculum is based on the Roy Adaptation Model. This model advocates a theoretical framework that emphasizes the treatment of the whole person.
- Location: Tulsa, OK
- Duration: Eighteen months to four years
- Accreditation: Accreditation for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is a public school offering on-campus and online nursing programs. All prospective nursing students must first be offered admission to SWOSU before being permitted to enroll in a pre-nursing curriculum. SWOSU offers three nursing programs at the undergraduate level. These are the traditional BSN program, the RN-BSN program, and the LPN-BSN program.
The traditional track is designed for incoming freshmen or college transfer students. This four-year program features a low student-to-faculty ratio. The online RN-BSN program is another popular option featuring the flexibility of both full- and part-time study options. Students complete ten core nursing classes. Prospective students should understand that although they can take courses on a part-time basis their classes are ultimately not self-paced and do follow a traditional academic calendar. The online LPN-BSN program gives existing nurse professionals the training necessary to enhance their professional growth and leadership potential. This program typically requires twelve months to complete. All degree tracks also include a clinical practice requirement.
- Location: Multiple campus locations
- Duration: One to four years, depending on the program and pace of study
- Accreditation: Accreditation for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Accredited Graduate Nursing Programs in Oklahoma
The OU College of Nursing offers a master of science degree in nursing. As previously mentioned in the entry for the university’s undergraduate nursing programs, the school is highly respected for the variety of degree programs it offers, from the baccalaureate to doctoral levels. OU seeks to contribute powerfully to nursing education, research, and practice.
The MSN program offers two options: nursing administration and clinical nurse specialists. The online MSN in nursing administration option trains professionals to foster quality care at the individual and population levels.
Graduates of this program have the skills necessary to effectively work on various care and professional teams in various healthcare environments. This program can be completed in as little as 24 months. The other program is designed for nursing professionals working with adult and geriatric patients.
The adult/gerontology clinical nurse specialist program trains students with the skills to improve and advance quality of care, apply evidence-based practices, drive clinical innovation and improve care outcomes at the individual and system level. Graduates are equipped to perform well in a variety of healthcare settings. They may also sit for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Adult Gerontology certification exam.
- Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The University of Central Oklahoma
The University of Central Oklahoma offers an online master of science in nursing degree designed to meet the growing need for highly skilled nursing professionals not just in the United States but worldwide. The curriculum is designed in alignment with UCO’s mission to foster progress in the intellectual, cultural, and economic lives of the various individuals and communities who seek an education with UCO.
Nursing students may choose one of two emphasis areas. These are nursing leadership and nursing education. The nursing leadership pathway trains students in the skills necessary to advance into leadership positions in various nursing roles. The nursing education pathway is suitable for students who wish to work in academic nursing education or in clinical staff education. Required core courses include subjects such as innovation in nursing, advanced research/evidence-based practice, and theoretical foundations of nursing. Regardless of emphasis, students complete 100 practicum hours at a site that ultimately benefits the local Oklahoma City metro community. Full-time students can complete this degree in as little as sixteen months.
- Location: Edmond, OK
- Duration: No less than sixteen months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Oklahoma City University (OCU) Kramer School of Nursing offers two online master of science in nursing degree programs. These are the RN-MSN program and the BSN-MSN program. Students can choose one of three specializations regardless of which program they choose. These specializations are education, leadership, and community-based public health nursing. Both programs offer spring, summer and autumn start dates. The master’s level nursing education programs train students for advanced nursing roles in teaching, research, administration, informatics and direct patient care.
The RN-MSN program consists of a 46-credit-hour curriculum that may be completed in six semesters over two years. This program allows diploma and associate-degree-trained RNs with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to enter the program without first having a bachelor of science degree in nursing. The only substantive difference in curriculum between this program and the BSN-MSN program is the requirement to take three BSN-level courses for the RN-MSN program. These courses must be completed before beginning graduate-level coursework. The BSN-MSN program is a 33-credit curriculum that may be completed in as few as five semesters.
- Location: Oklahoma City, OK
- Duration: Eighteen months to two years
- Accreditation: Accreditation for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
Nursing School Accreditation
Academic nursing programs are typically accredited by one of two accrediting organizations. These are the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Accreditation is a process that benefits the academic institutions and programs receiving accreditation as well as the students who attend these programs. Accreditation formally recognizes that an academic program meets the necessary educational, professional and other standards to be considered a trustworthy provider of quality training in a certain discipline. Accreditation provides prospective and enrolled students peace of mind. By knowing an academic degree program is accredited, students can be confident their decision to pursue a degree will be a secure and worthwhile investment of their time and money.
Some states are considered nurse licensure compact states. Oklahoma is one such state. A nurse licensure compact state is a state that permits nurses to practice in multiple states using a single license they may not necessarily have originally obtained in the state where they seek to practice. However, if a nurse seeks to make Oklahoma their primary state of residency, then they must apply for licensure within Oklahoma. An advantage of this licensure portability model is that it reduces nurses’ time navigating bureaucracy before being permitted to practice in a state they have just moved to.
Continued education is generally required to renew a nursing license. If a nurse decides to move out of state or pursue work in a different specialization, the nurse may need to fulfill additional education or other requirements.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Oklahoma?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of August 2024. Certified nurse midwife salary data is available through Salary.com (2024).
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries
| United States | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 630,250 | 11,860 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,790 | $51,880 |
| 10th percentile | $45,670 | $39,960 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $59,730 | $50,510 |
| 90th percentile | $77,870 | $61,680 |
Registered Nurse Salaries
| United States | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 3,175,390 | 32,610 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $94,480 | $82,110 |
| 10th percentile | $63,720 | $61,360 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,070 | $78,760 |
| 90th percentile | $132,680 | $101,390 |
Nurse Anesthetist Salaries
| United States | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 47,810 | No data available |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $214,200 | $208,410 |
| 10th percentile | $139,980 | $134,680 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $212,650 | $216,220 |
| 90th percentile | >$239,200 | >$239,200 |
Nurse Midwife Salaries
| United States | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 6,960 | |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $131,570 | No data available |
| 10th percentile | $87,320 | $96,069 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,650 | $113,518 |
| 90th percentile | $177,530 | $142,435 |
Nurse Practitioner Salaries
| United States | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 280,140 | 2,870 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $128,490 | $124,330 |
| 10th percentile | $94,530 | $78,870 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $126,260 | $124,070 |
| 90th percentile | $168,030 | $161,100 |
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure in Oklahoma
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Requirements for applicants for an LPN license in Oklahoma include:
| LPNs in the state of Oklahoma must do one of following to be eligible for license renewal:
The renewal fee is $75. |
Registered Nurse (RN) Licensure in Oklahoma
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Board of Nursing |
The requirements to earn an RN license in Oklahoma include:
| Every two years, RNs in the state of Oklahoma must do one the following to be eligible for renewal:
Renewals cost $75. |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Licensure in Oklahoma
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
CNSs in Oklahoma are licensed as APRNs. To be eligible for a license, the applicant must have the following:
|
Advanced practice licensure must be renewed concurrently with the Oklahoma Registered Nurse renewal in even-numbered years. While there are no continuing education requirements to renew the APRN license, candidates must meet continuing competency requirements for their RN license by meeting one of the following requirements:
|
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) Licensure in Oklahoma
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Oklahoma, CNMs are licensed as APRNs. To be eligible for a license, the applicant must have the following:
|
Advanced practice licensure must be renewed concurrently with the Oklahoma RN renewal in even-numbered years. While there are no continuing education requirements to renew the APRN license, candidates must meet continuing competency requirements for their RN license by meeting one of the following requirements:
|
Nurse Practitioner (NP) Licensure in Oklahoma
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In Oklahoma, NPs are licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). The eligibility requirements are:
|
Advanced practice licensure must be renewed concurrently with the Oklahoma RN renewal in even-numbered years. While there are no continuing education requirements to renew the APRN license, candidates must meet continuing competency requirements for their RN license by meeting one of the following requirements:
|
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CNRA) Licensure in Oklahoma
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
In the state of Oklahoma, CRNAs are licensed as APRNs. To be eligible for a license, the applicant must have the following:
|
Advanced practice licensure must be renewed concurrently with the Oklahoma RN renewal in even-numbered years. While there are no continuing education requirements to renew the APRN license, candidates must meet continuing competency requirements for their RN license by meeting one of the following requirements:
|
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterAt NursingColleges.com, Rachel Drummond has applied her extensive experience in education and mindfulness to elucidate the importance of self-care for nursing students since 2022. Through her writings, she underscores the role of mental and physical well-being in fostering resilient and compassionate healthcare professionals.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.