NORMAN, OKLA. – Students at the University of Oklahoma have continued to answer the call to fill the statewide nurse shortage.

The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing is Oklahoma’s largest nursing program. It spans five sites: the University of Oklahoma’s Tulsa Schusterman Center; Lawton, housed on the Cameron University campus; Oklahoma City’s Health Sciences; and two sites that hold the special designation of being embedded within two regional hospitals – Duncan Regional Hospital and Norman Regional Health System.

The strategy has paid off. In just three cycles of the expanded enrollment program implemented in 2022, each hospital has helped educate, train and retain a portion of each class's cohorts.

“The partnership has been mutually beneficial,” said Brittni McGill, chief nursing officer at Norman Regional Health System. “We have collaborated on ways to smoothly transition students from the academic experience to the professional setting.”

Recently, Norman Regional has added seven nursing graduates to its staff. Claire LaReau and Samantha Stevenson are two examples of the success story of this initiative to retain home-grown talent within the College of Nursing’s program.

LaReau, who is from Norman, knew early on during her college career at OU that nursing was the route she needed to follow. She desired to have more of a day-to-day approach with her patients. Once she became entrenched within the Norman Regional Health System as a nursing student, she experienced first-hand what was to be her calling.

“The program prepared me through exposure to different clinical experiences and the amazing professors the College of Nursing has at its disposal,” said LaReau. “I got to see a lot of variety and teamwork at Norman Regional, which ultimately helped me decide to apply there for further employment (following graduation).”

LaReau’s experience shows the benefits of easing the inevitable hurdle many college graduates face. LaReau’s experience is also shared by Stevenson, who came to OU from Eufaula, Oklahoma and has since adopted Norman as her home after completing her clinicals with the Norman Regional Health System, where she will begin her career.

Stevenson’s career in nursing seemed certain early on. As a child, she watched both her grandmother and aunt go through nursing school together, an experience she describes as inspiring. Once she got to nursing school, she knew she was in the place she needed to be.

“The College of Nursing program prepared me for the rewarding and challenging role of nursing,” said Stevenson. “Between the rigorous curriculum and the hands-on learning, I felt fully prepared graduating as a registered nurse.

“Norman has become my home,” Stevenson added. “Learning within the community has provided me firsthand knowledge of the prevalent health issues and the needs of the population I now serve.”

These testimonials are at the heart of the mission of the College of Nursing and the communities it hopes to serve within its five sites.

“The culture, the opportunity to learn and grow, the facilities are state-of-the-art, and nurses are well supported,” said McGill. “This is an innovative collaboration that could be replicated in other colleges and disciplines.”

Success has been synonymous with the College of Nursing’s partnership with the Norman hospital. The program in Norman has only 32 spots available. This year resulted in a waiting list.

“Our next opportunity is [address] how to expand,” McGill said.

Southwestern Oklahoma has also been a focal point of this collaborative effort to address in-state nursing needs. The College of Nursing’s site at Duncan Regional Hospital has also seen positive trends in the education and retention of nursing students.

“Duncan Regional Hospital has benefited from this partnership in so many ways,” said Kristen Webb, chief nursing officer for the hospital. “We have increased our ability to recruit graduate nurses to work in Duncan.”

OU has been present in Duncan since 2007. Thanks to the relationship and collaboration, the hospital has eliminated the use of contract (temporary) registered nurses they had previously used to fill vacancies since 2021.

Gavin Kizarr, a recent graduate from OU’s program in Duncan, grew up in the area. Kizarr says his mom, a nurse at the local cancer center, likes to say he is following in her footsteps.

“But truly, I liked science and math and loved helping people,” said Kizarr. “I think that’s why I chose nursing school.”

Kizarr also acknowledges that participating in a nursing program onsite where he could complete his clinicals was a huge jumpstart for his career.

“I think the ability to serve a community that raised me up feels great,” he said. “I’m happy that my education allows me to help people in my community.”

According to Webb, Duncan's employed nurses have had invaluable access to professional growth and engagement between the new staff and the College of Nursing community. This culture has led to more recently graduated registered nurses (RNs) mentoring nursing students at the hospital, developing a pipeline to sustain the continued growth of highly qualified nurses.

Eight of the 13 nursing school graduates in Duncan were hired by the hospital. 2025’s outlook is equally promising, with eight more students pledging their commitment to Duncan Regional Hospital upon graduation.

“This is very exciting and a much-needed infusion of well-qualified nursing workforce for the Duncan community,” said Webb. “Those who live in southwest Oklahoma and desire to become a registered nurse can attend a top-notch nursing program without having to relocate to another community or drive hours to attend school.”

 As time goes on, the OU College of Nursing’s relationship with its five sites, and specifically with the regional hospitals embedded in the program in Norman and Duncan, are serving the needs of the state, training the next generation of nurses and helping ensure Oklahomans have quality healthcare close to home.  

“The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing embraces the strategic goal of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences to be a leader in the development of the healthcare workforce,” said Melissa Craft, Ph.D., interim dean for the college. “Collaborations with our community partners, such as Norman Regional Health System and Duncan Regional Hospital, provide a catalyst for building the workforce not only specific to Oklahoma but also specific for those communities. The opportunity for students to attend an OU College of Nursing extended site in the region they want to work and live post-graduation is an asset for the student and the community.”

Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing students attend orientation at Norman Regional Health System.

About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.