Oklahoma has three primary nursing roles. In order of increasing responsibility and pay, these roles are certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and registered nurse (RN). Each nursing role carries distinct educational requirements.
Certified nursing assistants must complete a brief certificate program. This CNA certificate can be earned within eight to ten weeks at a number of community colleges and technology centers throughout Oklahoma. The state’s CNAs earn a median annual salary of $21,490.
Oklahoma
We've organized a comprehensive list of Oklahoma nursing schools. Below you'll find information on specific nursing programs such as LPN certificates and ADN, BSN, and MSN degrees. You'll also find a profile of nursing education and careers in each major Oklahoma city.
Oklahoma school overviews
Oklahoma nursing programs and careers
Healthcare is one of the top industries in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The metropolitan area, which is home to more than 69,000 people, houses top healthcare employers like Muskogee Regional Medical Center, Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, and Saint Francis Hospital. Together, these hospitals and medical centers employ more than 2,000 healthcare professionals. The city’s three most common nursing roles are registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), and certified nursing assistant (CNA).
The nursing community in Lawton, Oklahoma, consists of nearly 900 registered nurses (RNs), 500 licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and 400 certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Though these are the most common nursing roles in this southwestern Oklahoma city, dozens of nurses here also work in advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) roles like nurse practitioner and certified registered nurse anesthetist.
For our inaugural rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,200 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
For our inaugural rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,200 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
For our inaugural rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,200 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
For our inaugural rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,200 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
For our 2020 rankings, the research team at Nursing Schools Almanac collected data on over 3,000 nursing schools and campuses throughout the United States. We included the following states within our Southwest rankings: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. We evaluated each nursing school in the region on three dimensions:
It is crucial for aspiring nurses to understand the different pathways available for a nursing career. We profile below the key nursing roles in Tulsa, Oklahoma, including the educational requirements and typical pay of each.
Certified nursing assistant
Nurses are increasingly in high demand throughout the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Students considering a nursing career should learn more about the three critical nursing roles.
Certified nursing assistant
A master of science in nursing (MSN) is a graduate degree that enables nurses to further their careers in advanced fields like nursing administration, nursing education, and family practice nursing. The MSN degree is a prerequisite for registered nurses (RNs) to assume specialized roles with higher earning potential, like nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist. For example, Oklahoma’s RNs earn a median annual salary of $57,000. By comparison, the state’s nurse practitioners earn $81,000 per year, and its nurse anesthetists receive $165,000 in annual compensation.