Overview of Nurse Practitioner Degrees in Oklahoma
Whether you work in one of Oklahoma’s large cities or one of its many farming communities, you may be able to make a difference as a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners improve access to affordable healthcare in this state, offering options to families. Keep reading to learn more about nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma, career and specialization options, licensing rules and job outlook data. Start searching for the right school for you by checking out featured schools below or using the search bar above.
As you have built your registered nursing career and developed your clinical judgment, you may have decided that this is the right time to increase your nursing responsibilities, use your experience for the greater good, and take advantage of new career opportunities.
How Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner in Oklahoma?
When considering advanced nursing degrees, it’s important to consider those that make full use of your strengths. If you feel most at home while providing care to patients, this is the time to learn more about becoming a nurse practitioner by earning a Master’s degree or doctorate degree. As you compare degree options, let Oklahoma nursing schools help you.
Average Oklahoma Master’s Degree Requirements for NPs
- Credit hours required: 45 credits
- Average cost: $270 per credit hour for residents to $605 per credit hour for non-residents
- Clinical hours required: At least 500 hours
- Timeframe: Three years
Average Oklahoma Doctoral Degree Requirements for NPs
- Credit hours required: 85 credit hours
- Clinical hours required: At least 1,000 hours
- Timeframe: Five years
Nurse Practitioner Education Options in Oklahoma
Nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma focus heavily on clinical practice and clinical applications of research. While you may spend some time studying nursing statistics and research, the main goal of these courses is to make you a more effective clinician. For that reason, you may find that many of your advanced nursing courses cover nursing techniques, procedures, and practices.
Your curricular requirements may be influenced by the patient population you decide to work with. Oklahoma schools have programs in adult care, family care, pediatric care, and neonatal care. The family nurse practitioner courses listed below outline what you may learn in this type of program and how it empowers you to work with people of all ages.
Common Courses for FNP Programs
- Advanced Diagnostic Reasoning
- Advanced Health Assessment
- Quality Improvement in Nursing
- Primary Healthcare for Children
- Primary Healthcare for Adults
- Applied Principles of Pathology
- Primary Healthcare for Families
- Pharmacology for APRNs
- Nurse Practitioner Roles and Practice Management
When contacting nurse practitioner programs, OK students should request information on clinical requirements and opportunities. Ideally, you should get experience in a variety of settings.
Going from being a registered nurse to suddenly being a care leader can take some time and hard work, and you need to reinforce your new role multiple times throughout your degree. Clinical requirements are equally important for FNP online programs.
Although you can complete your theory coursework online, you do need to meet the same clinical requirements as traditional students to earn your nurse practitioner degree online.
How Can I Pay for Nurse Practitioner School in Oklahoma?
- BestNursingDegree.com Scholarship: You can apply for this scholarship anytime, since we run four application cycles per year. Each scholarship award is worth $2500.
- NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: This federal scholarship program rewards those who are willing to meet the needs of America’s underserved areas. After accepting an award, you must spend two years working as a nurse practitioner in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: By working at an NHSC-approved site for two years after graduation, selected applicants can have up to $50,000 of qualifying loans repaid by this program.
- Oklahoma Nursing Student Assistance Program: State grant programs are excellent for students who plan on staying in their home state after graduation. This program awards between 250 and 300 nursing scholarships each year.
Licensing and Practice Requirements for NPs in Oklahoma
As a student, make sure to keep your registered nursing license valid through the Oklahoma State Board of Nursing. To apply for a nurse practitioner license, you need to keep your RN license up-to-date, get national certification, and provide proof of your graduate degree. Currently, state law enforces restricted practice rights for Oklahoma nurse practitioners (AANP, 2016).
Nurse Practitioner Careers in Oklahoma
By the time you complete your clinical hours and graduate with your nurse practitioner degree, you should be well-versed in the employment opportunities that are available to you.
If you already work as a registered nurse, you may be able to move up in your current place of employment and retain your seniority. If you’re ready for a new adventure, you may consider clinic positions, hospital positions, urgent care centers, emergency rooms, and nursing homes.
Between 2014 and 2024, demand for nurse practitioners may increase 25% in Oklahoma (O*Net, 2016). Oklahoma nurse practitioners claim an average income of $81,750 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
Healthcare is a growing industry, and you can benefit from ongoing growth by becoming a nurse practitioner.
Selected Nurse Practitioner Schools in Oklahoma
NP programs for Oklahoma nurses include:
- University of Oklahoma Health Science Center. This Oklahoma City school offers master’s-level nurse practitioner programs aimed at RNs who have either a BSN or non-nursing Bachelor’s degree. Students can select the family nurse practitioner, pediatric nurse practitioner or adult nurse practitioner track.
- Oklahoma City University. Oklahoma City recently began offering a BSN-to-DNP family nurse practitioner program. By 2015, all new NPs will have to have a doctoral-level degree for entry into practice. Full-time students can expect to complete the program in two to three years; part-time student typically finish in four years.
- Georgetown University. Georgetown offers online NP programs that are accessible to nurses in Oklahoma. Students can select either a Family Nurse Practitioner program or the Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. Classes are web-based; Georgetown faculty help students to arrange clinical experiences close to home.
