The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma is once again one of the best programs in the nation and the No. 1 nursing school in the state of Oklahoma, according to Nursing Schools Almanac.
This year, the OU College of Nursing was ranked the 58th best public nursing school in the U.S. and 9th overall in the southwest region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
“We are extremely proud that the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing ranked so well in the Nursing Schools Almanac for academic prestige, program breadth and depth, and student success,” said Julie Hoff, dean of the OU College of Nursing. “As Oklahoma’s largest nursing school, we are committed to revolutionizing nursing education, research and practice to elevate the profession, drive health equity and improve health outcomes.”
For its 2022 rankings, Nursing Schools Almanac evaluated nearly 3,000 institutions nationwide. Of the schools evaluated, only 6% made the list of the best public and private nursing schools in the U.S. The evaluation was based on several factors, including the institution’s academic prestige and perceived value; the breadth and depth of nursing programs offered; and student success, particularly on the NCLEX licensure examination.
The rankings follow OU’s announcement earlier this year to admit all qualified applicants to the incoming fall 2022 bachelor of science in nursing program. This initiative provides more individuals with the opportunity to pursue a nursing career and, in turn, enhance the state’s nursing workforce at a time when nurses are needed more than ever.
Increasing enrollment is only one of the many ways OU is supporting the state’s need for more nurses and addressing the needs of an evolving health care system. Last year, the university announced it would offer its bachelor of science in nursing degree at two additional locations, partnering with Norman Regional Hospital and Duncan Regional Hospital. The expansion adds to the college’s existing locations that offer the traditional BSN – the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, the OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center and Cameron University in Lawton.
The OU College of Nursing also expanded online and in-person degree offerings. Programs that are offered fully online are the RN to BSN, Master’s in Nursing Administration, Ph.D. in Nursing and multiple pathways to a Doctor of Nursing Practice and post-graduate certificates. (story continues below)
In collaboration with the Oklahoma Career Tech System, the OU College of Nursing also updated a nurse refresher course for nurses with inactive or expired RN and LPN licenses. The refresher course reduces the learning and time barriers to reactivate one’s RN or LPN license – in turn, increasing the number of available registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in Oklahoma.
“The College of Nursing is building upon over a century of achievements and leadership – momentum evidenced by a new student success program, expanded undergraduate and graduate enrollment, the development of new courses and academic programs, and innovative academic-practice partnerships,” Hoff said. “While the last two years have presented unique challenges for nursing schools nationwide, OU Nursing continues to flourish in preparing the next generation of nurses, advance practice nurses, nurse leaders and nurse scientists to ensure a ready nursing workforce for Oklahoma.”
The full list of this year’s rankings by Nursing Schools Almanac can be found here. Learn more about OU’s Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at nursing.ouhsc.edu.
