As of May 2007, there were 25,700 registered nurses working in Oklahoma nursing jobs, with an average annual wage of $50,330, which is $24.20 per hour. These statistics were reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, which also stated that the average annual wage for all workers in all industries across the state was $33,720, which is $16.21 per hour. Comparatively, it is easy to see that registered nurses receive considerably more than average compensation and enjoy a significantly higher than average standard of living in Oklahoma. This is, undoubtedly, one reason why so many Oklahomans choose to enter Oklahoma nursing programs and go into this rewarding career.
According to data included in the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment prospects for registered nurses are poised to increase by 23% by the year 2016. This would mean the availability of an additional 587,000 registered nursing positions throughout the nation and shows that nursing is currently one of the fastest growing industries. This increasing demand is due to current registered nurses beginning to retire, the nation’s population expansion, the aging of our population and the ongoing push for nurses to provide more direct patient services to keep health care costs as low as possible. Oklahoma nursing careers are expected to experience a similar growth rate.
This same report states that registered nurses who hold at least a bachelor’s degree will experience a higher growth rate in employment prospects than nurses holding less than a bachelor’s degree, and that registered nurses with a master-level degree or higher will experience the best employment opportunities and opportunities to advance their career. This should be factored in to the decision making process for any students considering Oklahoma nursing programs.