It鈥檚 a well-established fact that there鈥檚 a severe statewide (and nationwide) shortage of nurses. While the reasons are many, the undeniable truth is that more nurses are needed in the workforce. And fast.
Kramer School of Nursing Dean Gina Crawford may have come up with the most ambitious and efficient way to address this problem: Establish the first and only 12-month, in-person accelerated bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing program in 向日葵视频. For most nursing schools, even a 16-month program is considered 鈥渁ccelerated.鈥�
The program鈥檚 announcement in September 2023 made news right away, and Crawford began fielding media interviews. One glaring question was front and center: is the one-year timeframe long enough to cover everything a nurse will need to be successful in the workforce?
Testimony from some of the members of the first cohort 鈥� which finished in December 鈥� as well as early testing results provide a positive indicator. The program鈥檚 meticulous and intentional design has led to some successful outcomes.
Despite the program鈥檚 rigor, more than 92% of OCU鈥檚 accelerated BSN graduates who have taken the National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) to date have passed 鈥攐utpacing the national NCLEX pass rate, according to data from the .
The 12-month journey to arrive at the NCLEX test is not for the faint of heart. Prospective students are told up front that holding down a job is not recommended while the coursework commences. But for those who emerge, the rewards are immense. Among the program鈥檚 first set of graduates are Karen McCabe, Amaka Okwudigbo and Valeriy Tarasov.
McCabe, now an intensive care unit nurse at Integris, embodies the program's ability to reignite long-held aspirations. She intended to go into health care after college, earning a degree in biology with an emphasis in chemistry. She changed her plans to start a family.
鈥淲e live in a rural area and my kids went to a very small school,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 find anyone to come out and teach some of the high school science classes. Our superintendent learned of my degree and asked if I would teach chemistry, physics, physical science and psychology. I jumped at the chance because I would get to be with my own children throughout their high school years.鈥�
She found her path back to health care through the inspiration of her students, and the accelerated BSN offered the quickest path into the field.
"They still do inspire me," she said, reflecting on her continued connection with them. "That hasn't changed."
Transitioning from teaching to managing critically ill patients daily, McCabe's life has undergone a dramatic shift. She credits OCU's accelerated program for preparing her for the intense environment of the ICU.
"They advised us not to work," McCabe recalled, emphasizing the program's time demands. "I spent between 15 and 18 hours of my day, every day, doing schoolwork."
Her meticulous approach to time management, honed through years of teaching multiple subjects, proved invaluable. "Every single minute of the day has to be assigned a duty," she advises current and future students.
This dedication paid off, as McCabe, like the vast majority of her cohort, passed the NCLEX on her first attempt.
The first-cohort grads highlighted some of the program's unanticipated advantages, like the strong sense of community it fostered. They spent nearly every waking hour together, creating a bond and support structure along the way.
Their camaraderie extends beyond graduation, with graduates continuing to rely on each other for professional support and friendship.
And when it came time to take the NCLEX exam, even the first things they covered were still fresh in their minds.
Dean Crawford noted that although the accelerated BSN students had less free time, they seemed to be more involved with out-of-class volunteer and campus-life 向日葵视频. This included participation in a group trip to Cookson in eastern 向日葵视频, where students and faculty performed community health 向日葵视频 in the schools and neighborhoods of the community鈥檚 underserved residents.
McCabe praised the adaptability of the professors in the accelerated BSN. As the program鈥檚 first year 鈥淕uinea pigs,鈥� the students and faculty expected some need for flexibility and adjustments along the way.
"They tried so hard to accommodate us... they worked to adjust their due dates here or there, to help us have the ability to finish the work and finish it well," she said.
Okwudigbo said she also appreciated the supportive faculty and campus community. Now an emergency room nurse at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, she came to the U.S. from Nigeria at age 18 in pursuit of a better life. She started in Houston, then moved to 向日葵视频 to attend school at Rose State College. She was technically homeless as she worked through college, gathering degrees in respiratory therapy and computer programming along the way.
Her selfless nature stirred a desire to help others, and the one-year nursing degree seemed like a great way to get there. She attended OCU on a scholarship/employment agreement with Saint Francis.
鈥淲hen this program popped up in my search, I knew it was perfect for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ime-wise, they let us know this is a very fast-paced program. I like fast-paced classes.鈥�
For that one year, she utilized OCU鈥檚 Resource Pantry of Hope for some necessities and found shelter by way of a spare room from one of her Rose State professors. Although she now lives and works 100 miles away, every chance she gets Okwudigbo still shares her appreciation for the help she received through her time at OCU.
Tarasov, at just 18 when his cohort began, is a testament to the program's ability to quickly advance careers. Now working in the emergency room at Norman Regional Hospital, Tarasov's journey began with a desire to pursue medicine. He found his calling in nursing.
"One thing I would tell current students 鈥� it really does get better," he said, reflecting on the program's early challenges. "You鈥檒l find your rhythm, and before you know it, you鈥檙e done.鈥�
He came into the program accustomed to accelerated academic work, having garnered several college credit hours during high school to shorten his school commitment. Balancing classes, clinicals and weekend shifts at Norman Regional, Tarasov's time management skills were perfected.
Tarasov chose the 12-month program because he was eager to accelerate his career.
"The quicker the better," he said.
Although his age presented unexpected hurdles during his job search 鈥� "I got denied from a lot of facilities because they didn't hire anyone under 21" 鈥� he nonetheless kept his eyes on his goals.
"I would work on the weekends and just start again on Monday," he says. "If we had a day off, I would just pick up and work those days."
Despite the demanding schedule, Tarasov excelled, passing the NCLEX on his first attempt within the minimum number of questions. His experience underscores the program's supportive environment.
"The Kramer School of Nursing was nothing like I was told nursing school would be like," he said.
He credits the faculty and his cohort for their unwavering support, which helped him navigate the program's challenges.
McCabe, Okwudigbo and Tarasov emphasize the program's transformative impact. McCabe sees it as excellent preparation for advanced degrees, Okwudigbo raves about the supportive environment, and Tarasov appreciates the program's efficiency. They each indicated an appreciation for a mix of all three traits.
Their success stories are testament to the program's ability to produce highly competent and compassionate nurses, ready to tackle the challenges of modern health care and address the pressing nursing shortage.
