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Nursing

By choosing the Nursing program at OBU, you will embark on a transformative journey that not only equips you with the finest nursing skills but also instills in you the core values of empathy, kindness and servant leadership. Our curriculum is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of healthcare principles, hands-on clinical experience, and ethical decision-making grounded in Christian values.

As part of our close-knit community, you will be surrounded by supportive faculty and fellow students who share your faith and aspirations, creating an environment that fosters spiritual growth and academic excellence. Join us in fulfilling your calling to make a positive impact on the lives of others through the healing ministry of nursing, guided by faith, knowledge, and compassion.

Abbie Richardson

Class of 2020

“Without the foundation that our faculty and simulation program gave me, I don’t think I could have fought through the Pandemic alongside my fellow nurses. The simulation lab prepared me to take care of my real patients that desperately needed safe nursing care.”

Benefits of OBU Nursing Program

As an OBU nursing student, you will benefit from small class sizes offering a more personal connection between students and faculty. You will be connected with a nursing faculty advisor from your very first semester who will walk with you through your journey at OBU.

Global Outreach

You’ll have the opportunity to join us on Global Outreach trips that are nursing specific. Over the years, we have led teams to Mexico, Indonesia and Kenya where nursing students experienced a journeys that were both professionally rewarding and spiritually fulfilling.

Support from the Start

We get to know you on a personal level. We want you to be good nurses, but, more than that, we want you to know Christ, walk with Him and live worthy of your calling in Christ. Faith integration is evident in every nursing course. Everything we do in the nursing program is centered around that ultimate goal. Our Christian liberal arts-foundation provides the structure for a well-rounded education, shaping excellent people as well as excellent nurses.

Incredible Education, Affordable Cost.

OBU provides a minimum $10,000 per year scholarship to every incoming first-time freshman and $8,000 to every incoming transfer student. And you could qualify for even more financial aid! Many of our students also receive money through federal Pell grants and OBU Bison Grants.

To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be, please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is. Especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!

Program Information

Simulation Labs

As a nursing student at OBU, you will spend many hours learning in our state-of-the-art simulation lab. Each clinical practicum course requires hours in simulation focused on the area of concentration such as pediatrics, obstetrics, med/surg, community and mental health, and leadership. Through simulation you will be challenged to think critically while applying your classroom knowledge in a safe learning space.

Clinical Partnerships

OBU maintains clinical partnerships with most major hospital entities (Integris, Mercy, OU, Norman Regional and SSM) community health clinics and many private practices around the metro and OKC. This provides numerous opportunities for clinical experience and networking. In addition, you can apply for internships with these partners to further enhance their learning experience.

Student Organizations

The OBU Student Nurses' Association (SNA) is designed to enhance the educational experience of its members and facilitate a smooth transition from a student nurse to a professional nurse. Our activities are developed to build community within the School of Nursing and our university and community, and facilitate personal and professional development. SNA is open to all declared nursing majors beginning in your freshman year. You have the option to join both the Oklahoma SNA and National SNA organizations on an individual basis.

A Christian Perspective on Nursing

The nursing school at OBU incorporates a Christian worldview into our curriculum, enriching students’ educations and spreading the teachings of Christ. We feel nursing and Christianity go hand-in-hand. After all, the Bible is overflowing with references of tending to the sick and practicing acts of compassion and kindness. Nursing embodies these characteristics, with registered nurses dedicating themselves to saving lives, improving health and making patients more comfortable. 

Job Opportunities 

Nursing in Hospitals

Many students who graduate from nursing school at OBU go on to work in hospitals. They may work in emergency rooms, critical care centers, labor and delivery, or surgery. These nurses thrive in a busy, demanding environment.

Nursing in Doctors’ Offices

Some nursing school graduates prefer doctors’ offices over hospital settings because the work is less hectic, and the hours are set and predictable. Opportunities for nurses in this area include pediatrics, oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology.

Nursing in Long-Term Care Facilities

Some of our nursing graduates choose to work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement communities and other care centers for the elderly, disabled or those recovering from a medical event or surgery. Many of our nursing graduates find this type of geriatric nursing rewarding. The Bible tells us to honor and care for our elders in their time of need, and nurses who staff long-term care facilities do God’s work on a full-time basis.

Nursing in Mental Health

Psychiatric nurses or those who work in mental health facilities care for patients with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. You may also work with patients diagnosed with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, and those addicted to drugs or alcohol. With an OBU nursing degree, you have many opportunities in Oklahoma and throughout the U.S. to help those struggling with mental health issues.

Visiting or Traveling Nurse

This type of work is perfect for the OBU nursing graduate who loves adventure and doesn’t want to be in the same hospital or doctor’s office every day. Visiting nurses attend to homebound patients who require onsite care. They often work in conjunction with home health care and hospice agencies, checking patients’ vital signs, changing dressings, assessing physical and emotional health, monitoring medications and more. Traveling nurses work at hospitals or medical centers across the country on a short-term basis, usually to help with nursing shortages in these areas.

Program Outcomes

The OBU nursing program has a long tradition of producing qualified graduates who find  success in the areas of employment,  NCLEX pass rates and program completion. See our
Nursing Student Achievement Data

Program Options

Bachelor of Science (BS)

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Stephanie Parker

Dr. Stephanie Parker

Chair, School of Nursing
Lawrence C. and Marion Harris Chair of Nursing
Associate Professor of Nursing

Dr. Jaime Brantley

Dr. Jaime Brantley

Associate Professor of Nursing

Dr. Robin Brothers

Dr. Robin Brothers

Associate Professor of Nursing

Dr. Laura Gramling

Dr. Laura Gramling

Associate Professor of Nursing

Joan Klerekoper

Joan Klerekoper

Associate Professor of Nursing

Abbie Richardson

Abbie Richardson

Instructor of Nursing
Director of Simulation Center

Dr. Dawn Westbrook

Dr. Dawn Westbrook

Associate Professor of Nursing