Becoming an RN in Oklahoma

Oklahoma expects to have a high demand for professional nurses for years to come. If the profession calls to you, know that the nursing field may be just as glad to have your talents and services as you are to offer them. You can become a registered nurse by taking an Oklahoma Board of Nursing approved degree program at either the associate’s or baccalaureate level. A BSN program generally includes a more broad liberal arts curriculum as well as advanced coursework in areas like community health. Both ADN and BSN programs qualify you to sit for the NCLEX-RN, a national certifying exam.

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Purdue Global Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees and Postgraduate Certificates in Nursing
Grand Canyon University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Nursing Degrees
Liberty University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing for the Registered Nurse
Walden University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Nursing Programs and Certificates
Sacred Heart University Visit School's Website
Selected Program:
  • Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

How do you decide between the two options? According to the Oklahoma Board f Nursing, a nurse at the BSN level may have better clinical and administrative advancement opportunities. A BSN is also necessary for teaching. It is becoming the preferred degree nationwide, as reports have linked higher education to better patient outcomes.

Of course it generally takes less time to complete an ADN and enter the field. Those who do enter with an ADN aren’t necessarily destined to stay at that level. They have the option of taking a BSN completion course later. Such courses don’t need specific board approval, and they are often taken online. The Oklahoma Institute for Nursing Education supports the BSN in Ten initiative to give RNs incentive to complete their baccalaureate degree within ten years.

Whichever program you select, you will need to take and pass the national board examination and demonstrate good character and legal standing.

Registered Nurse Education and Career Pathways

If you already have a license as a practical nurse, you may have a shortened path to licensing. The program you enroll in doesn’t necessarily have to be titled LPN to ADN or LPN to BSN. According to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, all in-state ADN programs, and some BSN programs, grant advanced placement to LPNs. There are also online RN to BSN program options.

Second career professionals also have a shortened path. Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma Health Center both have accelerated BSN programs. There are also out-of-state programs that accept Oklahoma students. The actual length of your program will depend on what prerequisites you took when completing your first bachelor’s. Those with a strong science background may be at an advantage.

Registered Nursing Career Outlook in Oklahoma

Job prospects for nurses are influenced by the national economy. Still, nursing graduates are faring better than those in most fields. Although vacancy rates have declined in the past few years, Oklahoma predicts continued high demand into the foreseeable future. This trend will be propelled by changing demographics.

According to the Health Care Workforce Center, the state expects a shortage of more than 3,000 nurses by 2012. The AACN reports that even during the recent economic downturn, nurses have had better career prospects than the average worker. A 2010 survey of university deans found that 88% of Oklahoma’s baccalaureate and direct-entry master’s nursing students had job offers at graduation. Four to six months down the line, 97% did. The results were based on two years of placement data.

The Application Process

Oklahoma has been working hard to increase nursing school capacity to meet demands. A 2009 report by the Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center noted that nursing schools in the state had admitted a higher percentage of qualified candidates than in past years. The percentage was better at the BSN level (85%) than at the associate’s level (71%). Unfortunately, the state is still turning away some candidates that are both qualified and needed. How can a person increase their chances of getting in?

A strong academic background is important for gaining admission to nursing schools in the state. As can be expected, universities often set standards higher than associates programs do. Merely meeting the stated standards may not be enough as there is often a point system to determine who actually gets a seat. If your academics are very high, though, you may be guaranteed admission. At the University of Oklahoma Health Center, honors students are guaranteed admission (without a wait list) if they complete prerequisite courses and required honors courses while maintaining general standards.

ADN Programs Approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Bacone College
Billie R. Tower Nursing Program

2299 Old Bacone Road
Muskogee, OK 74403
Ph: 918-781-7310

 

Carl Albert State College
Poteau Campus
1507 S. McKenna
Poteau, OK 74953-5208
Ph: 918-647-1350-1355

Carl Albert State College
Sallisaw Campus
1601 Opdyke
Sallisaw, OK 7495
Ph: 918-775-6977

Connors State College
Department of Nursing

Warner Campus
Route 1, Box 1000
Warner, OK 74469
Ph: 918-463-2931 Ext 6257

Connors State College
Muskogee Campus
2501 N. 41st St. East
Muskogee, OK 74403
Ph: 918-684-0413

Eastern Oklahoma State College
Wilburton Campus
1301 West Main
Wilburton, OK 74578
Ph: 918-465-2361 Ext 310

Eastern Oklahoma State College
McAlester Campus
1802 East College Ave.
McAlester, OK 74501
Ph: 918-302-3607

ITT Technical Institute
1900 NW Expressway, Suite 305
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Ph: 405-810-4100
(Provisional Approval)

ITT Technical Institute
8421 East 61st Street, Suite U
Tulsa, OK 74133
Ph: 918-615-3900
(Provisional Approval)

Murray State College
Department of Nursing

One Murray Campus
STE N/AH 105
Tishomingo, OK 73460-9739
Ph: 580-371-2371 Ext 337

Northeastern OK A&M College
Miami Campus
200 I. Street N.E.
Miami, OK 74354
Ph: 918-540-6312

Northeastern OK A&M College
Grove Campus
1201 NEO Loop
Grove, OK 74345

Ph: 918-787-5476

Northern Oklahoma College
Tonkawa Campus
P. O. Box 310
1220 E. Grand
Tonkawa, OK 74653
Ph: 580-628-6679

Northern Oklahoma College
Enid Campus
100 S. University
P. O. Box 2300
Enid, OK 73702-2300
Ph: 580-242-6300

Northern Oklahoma College
Stillwater Campus
Stillwater Medical Center
1323 W. 6th Box 2408
Stillwater, OK 74076
Ph: 405-372-1480

Oklahoma City Community College
School of Nursing

7777 S. May Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73159-4444
Ph: 405-682-7507

Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma City Campus
900 N. Portland
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Ph: 405-945-3295

Oklahoma State University
Goodwell Campus
P. O. Box 430
Goodwell, OK 73939
Ph: 580-349-2611 Ext 269

OSU Institute of Technology-
Okmulgee
1801 East 4 Street
Okmulgee, OK 74447
Ph: 918-293-5330

Platt College
Nursing Program
2727 W. Memorial Road
Oklahoma City, OK 73134
Ph: 405-749-2433

Platt College
Nursing Program
3801 S. Sheridian
Tulsa, OK 74145-6502
Ph: 918-663-9000

Redlands Community College
Department of Nursing

1300 S. Country Club Rd.
El Reno, Ok 73036
Ph: 405-422-1262

Rogers State University
Claremore Campus
1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd.
Claremore, OK 74017-3252
Ph: 918-343-7635

Rogers State University
Bartlesville Campus
401 S. Dewey Ave.
Bartlesville OK 74004
Ph: 918-338-8000

Rose State College
Midwest City Campus
6420 S.E. 15th Street
Midwest City, OK 73110
Ph: 405-733-7546

Rose State College
Internet-Based Campus
6420 S.E. 15th Street
Midwest City, OK 73110
Ph: 405-733-7546

Seminole State College
Division of Nursing
2701 Boren St.
Seminole, OK 74818-0351
Ph: 405-382-9205
Tulsa Community College
Division of Nursing
909 South Boston Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74119
Ph: 918-595-7188
Western Oklahoma State College
Department of Nursing
Altus Campus
2801 N. Main
Altus, Ok 73521
Ph: 580-477-7830

Western Oklahoma State College
Lawton Campus
2800 W. Gore Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73502
Ph: 580-477-7830

Western Oklahoma State College
Duncan Campus
Duncan Regional Hospital
P. O. Box 2000
Duncan, OK 73534
Ph: 580-251-8893

Western Oklahoma State College
Elk City Campus
WOSC-Elk City
1301 S. Main St.
Elk City, OK 73644
Ph: 580-477-7830

BSN Programs Approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing

Oklahoma City University

School Branding

The BSN program is accredited by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing and accredited by the CCNE.

Programs Offered: BSN, Second Degree BSN, RN to BSN, Part-Time BSN, MSN – (Tracks: Nursing Education, Nursing Administration), MSN/MBA, PhD, DNP

East Central University

Ada Campus
1000 E. 14th
Ada, OK 74820
Ph: 580-332-8000 Ext 433/434

East Central University

Durant Campus
Southeastern OK State Univ.
Box 4008
Durant, OK 74701-0609
Ph: 580-924-0121

East Central University

Ardmore Campus
Ardmore Higher Ed Center
611 Veterans Blvd.
Ardmore, OK 73401
Ph: 580-223-1441

Langston University

Langston Campus
P. O. Box 907
Langston, OK 73050
Ph: 405-466-3411

 

Langston University

Tulsa Campus
Langston University
700 N. Greenwood
Tulsa, OK 74160
Ph: 918-594-8070

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Alva Campus
709 Oklahoma Blvd.
Alva, OK 73717-2799
Ph: 580-327-84892727

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Enid Campus
2929 E. Randolph
Enid, Ok 73701
Ph: 580-233-31013801

Northwestern Oklahoma State University

Woodward Campus
PH: 580-327-8489

Oklahoma Baptist University
School of Nursing

500 W. University
Box 61805
Shawnee, OK 74804
Ph: 405-878-2081

Oklahoma Christian University
P O Box 11000
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100

Ph: 405-425-5000

Oklahoma City University
Kramer School of Nursing

2501 N. Blackwelder
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 Ph: 405-208-5900

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Division of Nursing

2201 Silver Lake Road
Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Ph: 918-335-6276

(Provisional Approval)

Oral Roberts University
Anna Vaughn School of Nursing

7777 S. Lewis Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74171
Ph: 918-495-6198

Platt College
2727 W. Memorial Rd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73134

PH: 405-749-2433

Platt College
3801 S. Sheridan
Tulsa OK 74145

Ph: 918-663-9000

Southern Nazarene University
School of Nursing

6729 NW 39th Expressway
Bethany, OK 73008
Ph: 405-491-6610
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Division of Nursing

Weatherford Campus
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
Ph: 580-774-3261
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Nursing

100 N. University Drive
Edmond, OK 73034-5209
Ph: 405-974-5000

University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Campus
Health Sciences Center
P. O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190
Ph: 405-271-2428

University of Oklahoma
Tulsa Campus
Schusterman Center
4502 E. 41st Street
Tulsa, OK 74159-2533
Ph: 918-660-3950

University of Oklahoma
Lawton Campus
South Shepler, Rm 610
2800 W. Gore Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73505
Ph: 580-591-8094

University of Oklahoma

Online Program
Health Sciences Center
P O Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190
Ph: 405-271-2420

The University of Tulsa
School of Nursing

800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104-9700
Ph: 918-631-2920