Oklahoma RN to BSN Bridge Programs
The new initiatives of healthcare reform have prompted the Oklahoma Nursing Association (ONA) to join the national objectives of sending nurses back to school. In a recent meeting of the ONA House of Delegates, the discussion focused on the vital impact that nurses have on virtually all forms of care in hospitals, communities and families.
The hospital-centered education of the ADN no longer supports the RN’s role in the community, preventative health and nursing research. In light of recent studies on nursing education, the ONA has promoted the necessity for RNs to obtain a BSN within 10 years of initial graduation and practice, and nursing schools in Oklahoma have responded. There are now several RN to BSN nursing programs in Oklahoma, making earning your bachelor’s degree a realistic and achievable goal!
According to a research publication by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as RNs, we must continue to practice with autonomy and we require the skills provided by BSN programs to support our diagnostic reasoning, advance our professional careers and increase our knowledge in sociocultural aspects of public health. These skills are highly transferrable to any nursing setting, and can help set you apart from your peers when it comes time to advance your career.
You can begin the next phase of your nursing education by utilizing BestNursingDegree.com to contact schools that offer RN-BSN programs in Oklahoma. Due to the high volume of nursing applicants, we recommend applying to as many schools that interest you to improve your chances of being accepted. It will also help you get a better feel for nursing schools in Oklahoma so you can find the program that is right for you. You may also want to consider online RN to BSN programs in OK, as they offer flexible scheduling and online classes. A large number of nurses choose this option as it allows you to continue working while continuing your education.
There’s a lot going on among Oklahoma RNs according to the Oklahoma Board of Nursing’s Fiscal Year 2011 Report. Nearly 53,590 RNs were licensed in the state, an increase of 17 percent over the past five years. First time pass rates for NCLEX have improved steadily over the past four years, reaching nearly 87 percent, which speaks to the quality of nursing programs in Oklahoma. A majority of Oklahoma RNs practice in hospitals, with home health, long-term care, and public health being other major areas of employment.
Less than one-third of Oklahoma RNs hold a baccalaureate degree, compared to the national average of 37 percent. In order to improve health and wellness in the state, you can lead the way by earning your Bachelor’s degree, demonstrating your fidelity to both your patients and your profession. A BSN degree can help develop the critical thinking and leadership skills that are needed to position yourself at the top of your profession. There multiple BSN programs in Oklahoma and as an RN you have a wide choice of both traditional and online RN to BSN programs to help you achieve your educational goals. Request information today to get started!
Curriculum of RN to BSN Programs in Oklahoma
In the new era of nursing in Oklahoma, RNs must rationalize their nursing actions with nursing research, apply theories to diagnostic reasoning and perform extensive patient assessments and evaluations. Healthcare reform also dictates new objectives that include preventative health, nutrition and desperately seek nursing leadership. A BSN provides the elements in education that support you in your nursing practice and help shift toward the new era of patient-centered care.
Courses included in typical BSN programs in OK may include:
- Nursing leadership, which is essential for promoting the future goals of the nursing field, career trends and management of allied health staff
- Health promotion and disease prevention, which focuses on preventative health strategies, public health screenings and educational initiatives
- Health care policy, finance and regulatory courses, which provide you with the comprehension of business practices in the healthcare industry
- Nursing research, which advances the rational for nursing actions, practice and diagnosis
- Health information management, which guides you through modern internet technology, patient databases the applied ethics and legal issues in healthcare
Careers for RN to BSN Graduates in Oklahoma
Attending one of the many nursing schools in Oklahoma that can help you earn your RN to BSN degree is a great way to expand your job opportunities and practice options. Oklahoma healthcare facilities provide several opportunities for the BSN graduate in fields such as those outlined below.
- Administrative areas of nursing in hospitals, medical centers and skilled facilities
- Occupational nursing in large companies that provide healthcare services to employees
- Oncology, psychiatric and critical care nursing units
- Public health nursing, case management and home health positions are mobile and autonomous
- Ostomy and wound care nursing is distinctly reserved for the BSN practicing nurse
- Nursing research positions are open to the advanced nurse who is detailed oriented
- Nurses in Oklahoma work for lawyers, legal teams or develop their own consulting companies
- Telephone nurses perform triage, explain health insurance and make referrals on an independent basis
As a BSN graduate, your advanced training will prepare you for greatly expanded roles within healthcare. Your job options increase, your knowledge base is widened, and your professional role is highlighted. Earning your Bachelor’s in Nursing in Oklahoma can also lead to an increase in earning potential, as employers commonly pay those nurses with more education and experience more than others. Oklahoma RNs earn an average annual wage of $57,130 as stated in May 2013 on the BLS and advancing your degree can help you stay on the upper end of these figures.
Contact the nursing schools in Oklahoma that offer the RN to BSN program you are interested in, whether it be online or on campus, by clicking on the school links on this page. You can request as much information as you like, and by doing so, will have the tools you need to make the right decision about continuing your nursing education.
Nursing Programs to Consider in Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Bartlesville): Because courses can be taken one at a time, students may continue to work full-time at their current job as needed. Sessions are available online or on campus. Clinical classes are not required. This is a faith-based university which states its curriculum offers values consistent with Wesleyan theology.
- University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond): UCO’s Career Ladder program offers selected courses off-site at Integris Baptist Medical Center and on the Rose State College campus (locations may vary). The senior level nursing courses, including nursing research, community health, and leadership, must be completed at the UCO campus. Evening courses are offered to accommodate student schedules.
- University of Oklahoma Health Science Center (Oklahoma City): Classes are available at multiple sites statewide and may be completed in as little as nine months of full-time study. Part-time schedules are also offered, as well as Saturday online sessions. In some cases, clinical experiences can be scheduled in the student’s community or place of employment.
