Oklahoma can boast the largest population of Native Americans in the nation, so it stands to reason that it contains some of the best Native American museums and cultural centers. Oklahoma City and Tulsa provide urban amenities, and both are within hours of the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. Smaller towns, such as Wichita Falls, Lawton and Broken Arrow provide great living environments for families. But, don’t forget the wide open plains – this state also is home to the cowboy, and it hosts the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Will Rogers Memorial. Nurses can find numerous opportunities for education and employment in this state.

Becoming a Nurse in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a great place to begin your nursing career, as many facilities offer the associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing. Some smaller schools include the Autry Technology Center in Enid, which offers programs in nutrition, pediatrics and pharmacology; Bacone College of nursing in Muskogee, with a specialty in radiology; and, Murray State College in Tishomingo, which offers the associate degree in nursing. A bachelor’s degree can be obtained at several colleges, among them: Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, and Langston University, which offers programs in administration, adult care, community health, geriatrics, gerontology, labor and delivery and neonatal care.

Nursing Jobs in Oklahoma

An LPN in Oklahoma can earn approximately $38,000 per year, but that salary is modified by the type of job desired. For instance, an LPN working in a nursing home can average $46,000 per year. An RN in this state can earn between $46,000 and $102,000 per year. Some of the largest health care employers in Oklahoma include: Woodward Regional Hospital; Valley View Regional Hospital in Ada; Shawnee Medical Center Clinic, which covers Pottawatomie, Lincoln and Seminole counties; and, St. John Health System in Tulsa.