According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for nurse practitioners is slated to increase by as much as 45% from 2022 to 2032. In Oklahoma, this is driven by several factors, including the shortage of primary care providers in the state.
Oklahoma is also considered one of the unhealthiest states in the country. As such, NPs can help change the landscape by providing services in rural and underserved areas.
Oklahoma also has a low location quotient for NPs, meaning there is less concentration for NPs in the state compared to the rest of the US.
Salary-wise, Oklahoma NPs are paid well compared to the rest of the states. Here, NPs earn an average of $121,740, which is far higher than the wages of NPs in neighboring Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.
Given the many career and financial opportunities that await NPs in Oklahoma, nurses should consider enrolling in any of the following universities that offer nurse practitioner programs:
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
- Alva, Oklahoma
Program Overview:
NOSU’s School of Nursing roughly started in 1981, when the university launched a Nursing program in response to the nurse shortage in the state.
Fast forward to a few decades later, NOSU now offers a 73-credit, 1,020-practicum hour BSN-DNP program with an online component and summer residency. Full-time students may complete the course in three years, while part-timers may do so in four.
The university also offers an advanced placement DNP, which is open to MSN-educated nurses or current APRNs. This pathway requires 37 to 39 credits of coursework.
In 2023, NWOSU graduates garnered an 83% first-time pass rate American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) certification exam. This was a slight decline from their 2021 passing rate of 100%.
NOSU’s FNP program has been ranked the top online NP program in the country by Edu Healthcare. EduMed.org, on the other hand, has listed NOSU’s online degree program as the fourth-best school in the US.
Oklahoma City University
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Program Overview:
OKCU’s Kramer School of Nursing was established to provide nursing education amidst an atmosphere of kindness and respect. On top of offering an undergraduate BSN program, it also offers various DNP and certificate programs for those who wish to become nurse practitioners.
OKCU’s BSN-DNP program has pathways for AGACNP, FNP, and PMHNP. Coursework is mostly offered online, while residency requirements are quite minimal. Credit units range from 66 to 68.
Applicants to the BSN-DNP program must have an active RN licensure, one year of experience (two for AGACNP applicants), a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and the completion of statistics and health assessment courses.
OKCU’s post-graduate certificate program offers the same three tracks, with credit hour requirements ranging from 21 to 23. This track is open to APRNs with graduate-level coursework in Advanced Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, and Assessment. The GPA requirement for applicants is higher at 3.25.
In 2021, OKCU’s FNP and AGACNP graduates marked a 100% first-time pass rate in their respective certification exams.
Oral Roberts University
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
Program Overview:
The ORU-Anna Vaughan School of Nursing is known for molding nurses who are at the forefront of nursing science and technology. Its philosophy is centered on the “Theory of Nursing for the Whole Person,” which teaches its graduates to address the varying needs of patients and their families.
The private university is known for its hybrid DNP program, which features a combination of online didactics and on-campus residencies. The practice-oriented degree is overseen by nurse practitioners and physician preceptors with vast experience in family nursing.
The 70-credit curriculum may be completed in 32 months on a full-time basis. However, enrollees have a maximum of five years to finish the degree.
Students must complete 2,000 hours of nursing practice before they are allowed to enter the second year of the program.
University of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Program Overview:
Founded in 1911, the UO College of Nursing is known as the state’s largest nursing school with an annual enrollment of 725 undergraduate and graduate students. It has been recognized as one of the Best Nursing Schools in the country by many institutions, including Nursing Almanac.
The University offers a BSN-DNP program with several NP specialization tracks. While the course is mostly offered online, students will still need to go to the campus to perform standardized patient visits, lab skills, physical assessments, and clinical exams.
DNP coursework for the FNP, NNP, or PMHNP program may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis. Credits range from 72 to 76 units, while practicum hours range from 1,024 to 1,088 hours.
Post-graduate certificates are also offered for the abovementioned specialties. Credit requirements range from 24 to 33 hours.
The curricula for the two NP programs are based on the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties’ and the American Association of Colleges of Nurses’ recommendations.
In 2021, UO’s FNP graduates registered a 100% first-time pass rate in the national certification exams.
University of Tulsa
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
Program Overview:
Established in 1973, the University of Tulsa School of Nursing has a long tradition of educating nurses. Its BSN-DNP program is open to RNs who wish to specialize in adult-gerontology acute care or family nursing practice.
The BSN-DNP track is a full-time, three-year on-campus program held at the Oxley Health Sciences facility. That said, many of the classes are delivered synchronously.
Students must complete a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours and maintain a grade of 3.0 or higher throughout the DNP program.
Ranked 110th in the country by US News & World Report, the University’s high scores are attributed to student performance, faculty resources, and research output.
The university also offers a post-graduate certificate in AGACNP for nurses with MSN or DNP degrees. Available online, this 18-credit course renders one eligible for the American Nurses Credentialing Center certification exam.
The University of Tulsa’s DNP and certificate program graduates have registered a 100% first-time pass rate in their respective FNP and AGACNP certification exams.
