University of Oklahoma Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing Expands Nursing Education Programs

The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents and the Oklahoma Board of Nursing have approved expansion of nursing education programs through the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the OU Health Sciences Center for students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The expansion is one way OU and the College of Nursing are addressing the needs of an evolving health care system, the continuously increasing shortage of nurse professionals, and the future demands associated with an aging population. The new locations for the BSN program include Norman Regional Health System in Norman, and Duncan Regional Hospital in Duncan.

“Ever since our university’s earliest years, OU nurses have fulfilled our life-changing purpose – heroic work that continues today,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “The nationwide chronic shortage of nursing professionals impacts all of us, and it’s often a dilemma caused by limited class sizes and a lack of qualified instructors. Further expanding our superior nursing education to locations beyond the OU Health Sciences Center is a vital step toward ensuring Oklahomans receive superb care today and for a lifetime.”

Julie Hoff, PhD, MPH, RN, Dean of the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, said the strategic impact of this expansion will bring baccalaureate nursing education to a broader scope of motivated students for whom access has been limited or difficult, directly addressing the nationwide nursing shortage.

“OU Health and the OU College of Nursing are committed to improving the lives of all people, and imperative to this is the facilitation of active academic-practice partnerships that strengthen the professional nursing workforce through exceptional education, clinical practice and research,” said Hoff. “With opportunities in Duncan and Norman, we have a better opportunity to reach a greater number of those interested in a career in nursing. Increasing the number of professional registered nurses has the potential to substantially improve health care outcomes and reduce inequities in Oklahoma. The vital importance of nurses has been brought clearly into focus and we are responsible to answer the call.”

The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing is the largest nursing program in Oklahoma, offering degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as distance learning opportunities to provide educational access and greater flexibility to students. The college is located on the OU Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City, with additional locations at OU-Tulsa Schusterman Center and Cameron University in Lawton. For more information, go to nursing.ouhsc.edu.