Registered Nurse Jobs in Oklahoma City, OK
Registered nurses in Oklahoma City earn a median of about $39.87 an hour, and four big systems, INTEGRIS Health, OU Health, Mercy and SSM Health, compete for them from Northwest Expressway to the NE 13th Street medical campus. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current registered nurse Openings in Oklahoma City, OK
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Registered Nurse Work in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has about 16,500 registered nurse jobs, by the federal count for the metro, and they cluster in a few places. The Oklahoma Health Center near NE 13th Street and Lincoln Boulevard holds OU Health's OU Medical Center and the VA Oklahoma City Health Care System. INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center sits off Northwest Expressway, INTEGRIS Health Southwest Medical Center serves the south side on South Western Avenue, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City is on West Memorial Road, and SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital is in Midtown. Norman Regional adds more hospital work down I-35 in Norman.
What sets OKC apart is choice. A new nurse can pick between academic trauma and pediatric units at OU Health, two Oklahoma-based and two national systems, and federal pay scales at the VA. Oklahoma is also a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate RN license from another compact state is valid here.
Top Oklahoma City Employers Hiring Registered Nurses
These Oklahoma City employers hire registered nurses for hospital and clinic roles:
- INTEGRIS Health - hires RNs for trauma ICU, med-surg and other units at Baptist and Southwest Medical Centers, with a year-long accredited nurse residency.
- OU Health - staffs adult trauma, transplant, ICU and perioperative units plus pediatric NICU and PICU at its NE 13th Street campus.
- Mercy - Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City hires graduate and experienced RNs and runs a 12-month new graduate residency.
- SSM Health - St. Anthony Hospital in Midtown posts graduate nurse roles with day and night shifts.
- VA Oklahoma City Health Care System - the federal medical center hires staff RNs for primary care teams and acute care units through USAJOBS.
- Norman Regional Health System - the Cleveland County system hires nurses across its Norman campuses.
Registered Nurse Salaries in Oklahoma City
- Entry level: about $32 to $37 an hour, or $67,600 to $77,700 a year.
- Experienced: roughly $37 to $48 an hour, or $77,700 to $99,500 a year.
- Senior: $48 to $50 an hour and up, with VA staff RN ranges reaching $140,903 a year.
These are estimates from federal wage data for the Oklahoma City metro, cross-checked against VA postings. Specialty, shift and degree move pay the most: ICU, ER and OR nurses earn more than floor nurses, nights and weekends carry differentials, and a BSN opens charge and leadership roles.
How to Become a Registered Nurse in Oklahoma City
You need an associate or bachelor's degree from a program approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, then a passing score on the NCLEX-RN. Associate degree programs run at Oklahoma City Community College, OSU-Oklahoma City on North Portland Avenue and Rose State College in Midwest City. The University of Oklahoma Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing offers traditional and accelerated BSN tracks on the OU Health campus. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing licenses RNs after the exam, a fingerprint-based criminal history check and proof of citizenship or qualified alien status.
What the Job Involves
Registered nurses assess patients, give medications and treatments, watch for changes in condition and coordinate care with physicians and therapists. A typical 12 hour shift includes assessments, medication passes, charting in the electronic health record, patient and family education, and handoff report. Charge nurses also run the unit's assignments and staffing.
Skills Employers Look For
- An active Oklahoma or multistate compact RN license
- BLS from the American Heart Association, plus ACLS or PALS for critical care
- Sound clinical judgment and assessment skills
- Electronic health record charting
- Calm communication with patients and families
- Flexibility for nights, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Oklahoma City nurses start in a hospital residency at INTEGRIS or Mercy, move into a specialty such as ICU, ER or labor and delivery, and then step up to charge nurse and nurse manager. LPNs can bridge to RN through OSU-Oklahoma City's career ladder pathway, and RNs can finish a BSN through OU's RN-BSN track. OU Health advertises full tuition for BSN, MSN and DNP degrees after six months, a path toward nurse practitioner and leadership roles.
Related Careers in Oklahoma City
If nursing interests you, start with the full picture of Oklahoma City healthcare work:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an RN license in Oklahoma?
Graduate from a program approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply through the Board's Nurse Portal. The Board also requires fingerprints for a criminal history check and proof of citizenship or qualified alien status.
How much do registered nurses make in Oklahoma City?
Federal wage data for the metro puts the median at about $39.87 an hour, or $82,920 a year. Most RNs earn between about $37 and $48 an hour, and the top tenth earn more than $49.
Can I work in Oklahoma City with a compact nursing license?
Yes. Oklahoma is a Nurse Licensure Compact state and has issued multistate licenses since January 2018, so a multistate license from another compact state lets you practice here. If you move to Oklahoma, you must apply for an Oklahoma multistate license within 60 days.
Do Oklahoma City hospitals hire new graduate nurses?
Yes. INTEGRIS Health places new graduates in a year-long nurse residency accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Mercy runs a 12-month residency in Oklahoma City, and SSM Health posts graduate nurse roles at St. Anthony Hospital. Taking the NCLEX before your start date makes orientation easier.
How long does it take to become an RN in Oklahoma City?
An associate degree usually takes about two years of nursing courses after prerequisites, and OSU-Oklahoma City's program runs four nursing semesters after a general education semester. A bachelor's degree takes about four years, and OU also offers an accelerated BSN track.
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