4 Best Nurse Practitioner Programs in Oklahoma – 2024

Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

While Oklahoma allows NPs to practice without physician oversight, nurse practitioners are not allowed to prescribe medications. The result of this is that almost all graduates of accredited nurse practitioner schools in Oklahoma choose to work under the supervision of a collaborating MD. NPs in The Sooner State on average earn $121,740 per annum, and the demand for their services is projected to increase by nearly 47 percent over the next 10 years. A list of the best nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma for 2024 can be found below.

WHAT ARE THE BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN OKLAHOMA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2024?

(Based on our ranking methodology, the following are the 4 Best NP programs in Oklahoma for the year 2024.)

1) Oklahoma City University - Oklahoma City

Programs Offered: BSN-DNP and Post-Master's Certificate

When you graduate from one of the best nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma you equip yourself with excellent clinical skills and stay ahead of your counterparts in the job market. Oklahoma City University is one such NP school that instills qualities of leadership and compassion in its nurse practitioner students. Since its inception in 1981, the nursing school has been synonymous with producing nurses who are critical thinkers and holistic caregivers. These skills are enhanced inside and outside the classroom, through extensive simulation learning at its state-of-art lab facility. The school trains you to practice as a competent nurse practitioner in Oklahoma through its online and onsite BSN to DNP and post-masters certificate programs which come with three specialization options.

BSN-DNP Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Whether you aspire to advance your nursing career or are keen on being an agent of change to better health outcomes, with this BSN to DNP pathway you can build up on your nursing bachelors to acquire clinical leadership skills. Depending on your interests, you can choose to specialize in either family health, acute care of adults & the elderly, or care of mental health patients. To qualify for this path, you must have completed your BSN with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and must also have worked as a registered nurse for at least one year.

Regardless of the track you choose, you will take 3 to 4 years to complete the program by taking online classes and visiting the campus for intensives once each semester. To graduate, you are required to complete 66 to 68 credits in courses comprising health communication & informatics, foundations of advanced nursing, advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment. Additionally, the DNP core courses educate you in nursing research integration, health policy, global & population health, and clinical practice management & information systems. Furthermore, you also complete specialty-specific advanced practice courses and finally culminate the program with a DNP project.

Post-Master's Certificate Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

To qualify for this program, you must be holding an active APRN license in OK, either in adult-gerontology, pediatrics, or acute care. This program is ideal for you if you are keen on expanding your role as an APRN by adding another specialty to your nursing practice. Depending on your goals and interest, you can enroll in either family health, adult-gerontology, or mental health. Upon completion of the 20 to 23 credit curriculum, you will be eligible to take the certification exam within the chosen population focus.

2) University of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City

Programs Offered: MSN and BSN to DNP

Have you ever thought of reaching out to a wider patient population to improve health at a local, national, and international level? If you find your calling in this cause, then you may want to know about University of Oklahoma’s College of Nursing. Known to be among the best nurse practitioner schools in Oklahoma, the school has received acclaim for academic excellence, and its wide range of community outreach programs that aim to solve healthcare issues faced regionally and at a global level. As an NP student here, you will be mentored under a dedicated faculty who come from diverse backgrounds and are committed to making leaders out of nursing students. To become a nurse practitioner in Oklahoma, depending on your previous degree you can enroll in either the MSN or BSN to DNP nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma that prepare you to play leadership roles in primary care.

MSN Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner

This MSN-Nurse Practitioner program in Oklahoma starts in summer and is offered with an option of full-time or part-time classes. While on a full-time basis, you can complete the 47 credits in two years, part-timers usually take three years. This is mainly an on-campus program with classes offered at the Tulsa campus. BSN graduates, holding an active RN license are eligible for this program. Upon enrollment, you will complete core courses comprising evidence-based knowledge, technology & quality improvement in nursing, pathology, pharmacology, health assessment & diagnostic reasoning. The specialty-specific courses prepare you in primary health care management of individuals and families across the lifespan.

Also, if you have already completed your MSN and aspire to earn the FNP credential you can complete 35 credits towards a post-master’s certificate and earn the eligibility to take the FNP certification exam. Your coursework will typically consist of 9-credit clinical science core courses and 25 credits in FNP courses.

BSN to DNP Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner

As a registered nurse if you are keen on acquiring primary care skills required to treat chronic and acute illness of patients, ranging from infancy to the geriatric population, then this program is right for you. The program starts in summer and requires completion of 72 credits and 1040 clinical hours. You can complete this program on a part-time or full-time basis within a period of two or three years. Upon graduation, you will be able to design, implement, and evaluate health policies to improve health across all sections of the population.

3) Northwestern Oklahoma State University - Alva

Programs Offered: BSN to DNP

If you are passionate about rural health and are looking for nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma that emphasize on healthcare of the rural population, then your search may end with Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s BSN to DNP program. The university is proudly the first public university that offers a BSN to DNP track in the state, and also the only one in OK that strives towards the improvement of rural health. Here, small-sized classes, personalized attention, and a curriculum based on Jean Watson’s caring theory help in thoroughly preparing you for your role as a patient-centric nurse leader.

BSN to DNP Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

This BSN to DNP-nurse practitioner program in Oklahoma is a practice-focused program that is open for registered nurses holding a BSN degree. The 73-credit coursework emphasizes rural health and takes three to four years to complete. In addition to the FNP specific coursework, you will complete courses in population health, role development for DNPs, health systems management, interprofessional leadership, and advanced nursing practice in rural communities.

Also, you can earn an advanced placement into this program if you have already completed your MSN and are certified as an FNP. With this option, you can retain your specialization and complete the 37 to 39 credit DNP courses.

4) University of Tulsa – Tulsa

Programs Offered: BSN to DNP

Nurse practitioners play a vital role in filling the gap of primary care providers in the state of Oklahoma, which is currently reeling under the shortage of quality caregivers. If you are checking out nurse practitioner programs in Oklahoma to advance into this promising nursing position, you may want to shortlist University of Tulsa’s NP specializations, offered through a BSN to DNP pathway. As an NP student here, you will undergo extensive clinical training at its state-of-art simulation center which replicates a real-world modern medical facility. After you master these vital professional skills, you will apply the knowledge in clinical settings which include prominent hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Tulsa. Also, to further broaden the learning curve you can opt for additional clinical training at sites across OK and the neighboring states.

BSN to DNP Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

This BSN to DNP pathway comes with specialization options in adult-gerontology acute care and family health. The AGACNP track prepares you for critical care of adults and the elderly, whereas the FNP track is meant for those interested in primary care of individuals across the lifespan. Regardless of the track, the curriculum focuses on core population-focused competencies, including scientific foundation, leadership, independent practice, health delivery systems, health policy, healthcare informatics, and practice inquiry. To earn your DNP degree, you must complete around 96 credits across eight semesters. On a full-time basis, most students complete this program in three years, after which they stand eligible to take the certification exam in their chosen specialty. To be eligible for this program you must have completed a BSN and hold an active RN license.

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