Oklahoma City University Online Nursing Blog
In this blog we’ll walk you through what you can expect in nursing school, how it compares to other degrees, the advantages of an online format, and actionable tips for succeeding in an online RN-BSN program. You’ll feel confident about taking the next step toward your nursing career.
Effective leadership inspires nurses to reach their potential, while solid management ensures that health care organizations run smoothly and efficiently. Although leadership and management are often used interchangeably, they are distinct yet complementary skills, each playing a unique role in nursing.
In this blog post, we'll explore the nursing student essentials like choosing the right nursing program, how to succeed in nursing school, an overview of the BSN curriculum, and how technology is transforming the nursing school experience.
Leadership isn’t just reserved for executives or administrators—it’s crucial at every level of nursing. Whether you’re managing a team of nurses, leading a shift in the emergency room, or guiding new graduates, your leadership style and skills directly influence both patient care and staff satisfaction. Strong leadership helps foster better communication, improves patient outcomes, and enhances the overall work environment.
Nurse leaders can make a positive impact on all aspects of clinical care by serving as role models, creating a positive working environment, setting the standard for patient care and helping their health care organizations function more effectively.
Patient care isn’t always easy. If you’re ready for a new role outside the clinic, looking into non-bedside nursing careers may be the right next choice for you.
Implementation of evidence-based techniques requires more than an understanding of studies and outcomes—it demands intention and the cultivation of a workplace culture conducive to change. From solo practitioners to expansive healthcare systems, the successful application of evidence-based practice hinges on strategic planning and steadfast commitment.
As we dive into the world of nursing education, we'll explore the varying paths one can take to earn a BSN—comparing traditional and online programs—and how Oklahoma City University (OCU) an expedient path for aspiring nurses to reach new professional heights.
In nursing, the mission to elevate patient care and assure the highest quality standards is unceasing. At the heart of this pursuit lies evidence-based practice (EBP)—a methodical approach that integrates clinical expertise, research findings, and patient preferences to decide the best course of action in medical care.
Explore the diverse career pathways available to those armed with a BSN degree, the enhanced skill sets they possess, and the resulting impact on their patients and communities.
A career in nursing presents a wide range of opportunities if you're willing to commit to your education and profession. Learn what it takes to apply to and enroll in a BSN program.
While some people might argue that evidence-based practice in nursing began as far back as Florence Nightingale, the term "evidence-based medicine" or "EBM" wasn't coined until the 1990s. So, what is evidence-based practice in nursing and how does it differ from other ideas of clinical practice? Let's dig in.
Working nurses who want to advance their careers don’t have to put their lives on hold. With the emergence of online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, there are flexible and convenient pathways available. Without reporting to campus, you can develop as a nursing leader, exploring topics ranging from disease prevention to social justice in health care.
To help prepare the next generation, nurse educators equip new nurses with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of patients and health care systems. The demand for these nurse educators is expected to grow 22% by 2030, largely due to our increasingly aging population and a shortage of nursing professionals.
Learn what a BSN entails and could mean for your career advancement goals and how to get started with an online RN-BSN program.
Are you considering an online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)? Whether you already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or you’re just starting out on your nursing career path, an MSN is a valuable step that will provide a wealth of opportunities for your future.
The need for nurse consultants, nurses, educators, or nurse administrators is outpacing the rest of the nursing industry and creating exciting opportunities for nurses who complete an RN-MSN program.
New research, technological advancements, and the evolving needs of patients drive constant change in the medical field. Learn how a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree can help you provide the best patient care, support your career aspirations, and open up new job opportunities in nursing.
Elevate your nursing career with RN to MSN programs. Unlock new opportunities and advance your expertise in the field of nursing through advanced education.
Nursing and professional development go hand-in-hand. Not only is there a significant amount of education required to work as a nurse but the field has an expectation for its professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest research developments and to be continually honing their skills to deliver top-quality care.
Registered nurses dedicated to patient care can acquire new skills and knowledge to enhance their clinical expertise and career by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Earning a BSN can be a pivotal step in your career. Read on to explore the benefits and opportunities available to you with a BSN degree.
Explore the many career benefits of an online Master of Science in Nursing in Leadership.
Working in nurse education can be a rewarding career path that provides a variety of opportunities but also requires academic commitment and professional exploration. Learn from OCU student and nurse educator, Megan Leach.
Nursing is a broad profession that can have an immense impact wherever you want to take it. While there’s no question that bedside nurses play indispensable roles in patient care, there’s a myriad of nursing careers that prioritize a nurse’s other strengths or interests.
Experience and instinct aren’t enough to help you make the right decisions in patient care. Understanding medical research and how it applies to current practice means nurses must be able to interpret statistics. Learn why understanding statistics is critical to becoming an accomplished nurse.
One of the best aspects of this field is the number of opportunities you have to move in a different direction, yet stay connected to the job you love. Have you considered working as a nurse manager? You still have the opportunity to work with patients in a clinical setting, and you also get to represent your team to your organization’s management.
Community-Based Public Health nursing students from OCU begin classes this fall. Learn more about the newest specialization for online MSN students.
Social justice is practically inherent to nursing. In fact, Provision 8 of the Nursing Code of Ethics declares that “the nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public to protect human rights, promote health diplomacy, and reduce health disparities.”
Public health nursing is an all-encompassing field affected by human and natural events alike. While the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that some things are unpredictable, the future of public health nursing is generally predicated on developments and trends in technology, science, politics or society’s shifts and popular culture.
Vaccines are often considered to be one of the greatest achievements in public health. Infectious diseases that once wrought devastating illness, death, and chaos among smaller communities and entire countries, are now considered much more manageable. Keep reading to learn about nurses’ role in the fight against disease with vaccination and immunization, the history of the field and more.
Now that you’ve made the decision to return to nursing school, you need to complete each step of your application–including procuring letters of recommendation. Our guide has advice for who, how and when to ask for recommendations no matter what your background.
Why is it important to understand health care trends? The direction that the health care industry is moving toward, which includes changes in the way things are done and disruptive new technologies, helps health care professionals to understand patients’ needs and how an organization’s business model can be updated to meet them.
Nursing is a profession that has been around for centuries, and it has played a vital role in health care throughout history. From the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece to the modern health care systems of today, nursing has evolved and adapted to meet the changing understanding of science and needs of society.
A nursing resume should be thought of as a first impression. Whether a hiring manager is considering you for a job, or an admissions advisor is reviewing your experience for a spot in an academic program, you want to be confident in how your nurse resume represents your experience, education, nursing skills, and soft skills.
With so many online nursing programs in the market today, it’s difficult to know which are reputable and which are not. Learn how to choose an online nursing school that meets key criteria to prove its legitimacy.
You should approach the responsibility of continuing education as an opportunity to invest in yourself. Fortunately, you typically get to choose how you want to earn your nursing CE credits. From figuring out if it's required for your state or not, understanding the importance of CE and what types of things you could learn, let's dive into figuring out how to get the most from your continuing nursing education.
Enhancing diversity in nursing is especially critical for establishing quality healthcare for all patient populations. Find out why diversity in nursing is so important and learn about research that supports the fact that a more diverse nurse staff is likely to be able to provide better professional nursing care.
Dr. Pamela Stokes knows, “Nursing is never boring.” Read about our business development leader’s journey through nursing from clinical roles to administration and consulting. Learn why Dr. Stokes believes advanced nursing education opened doors for her own career and how it can help yours as well.
Even when you know that nursing school is a good investment for your career progression, covering tuition can still feel like a hurdle. Read on to get some tips on how to find and apply for scholarships and what resources are available at Oklahoma City University.
For the first time, the Kramer School of Nursing at Oklahoma City University bestowed a DAISY award upon a faculty member for demonstrating excellence in instruction. Keep reading to learn more about Beth Pitman, MSN, ACCNS-AG, CNE, and the award.
Wondering what it takes to assume a leadership role in nursing? We’ll unpack what a nurse leader does and what business skills can help you advance in this competitive and lucrative arena.
How do you treat all patients equally while treating them as individuals? This is a crucial lesson for all nurses and especially those who work in settings where the patients they treat are culturally very different from the staff at the clinic or hospital–like nurses working in settings with large Indigenous populations.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses considers patient advocacy to be one of the most important roles of a nurse. Provision three of the Code states that nurses are entrusted to promote, advocate for and protect patients’ health, safety and rights.
Opaline Deveraux Wadkins played such an influential role in both advancing and desegregating the field of nursing that former Oklahoma Governor Davin Borin declared November 14, the day she retired, a state holiday.
Nurses take on tremendous responsibility in all healthcare settings, making a big impact on the quality of care received.That’s part of the reason there’s been a concerted effort to increase the number of bachelor’s prepared nurses.
Ready for a career shakeup or looking for a job that aligns more closely with your interests? The great thing about working as a nurse is that you have highly in-demand practical and soft skills that can take you into all sorts of environments and niche roles.
Because of the inherent high risk for burnout in nurses, it’s important when working in the profession to know what warning signs and symptoms to look for, the risks associated with nurse burnout as well as methods for avoiding the causes of burnout.
As you increase your level of education, especially in nursing, your options open up further and allow you to specialize in a certain area of interest or role that appeals to you. Higher levels of education also often correlate with higher salaries and better shift hours. The degree you should pursue depends on where you’re at in your career, your professional goals, as well as practical considerations like how much time you’re willing to spend in school.
Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is a pretty reliable way to elevate your nursing career in a number of aspects. An MSN can lead to more secure employment opportunities, increased responsibilities, the ability to practice in more specialized health services–and of course– higher salaries.
If you needed to receive care from a hospital and had the ability to choose where to go, what sorts of criteria would you consider to find the best option? Would you consider the hospital ranks in regard to its nursing team? Magnet Program Recognition is all about attracting the top nursing talent and improving care.