Advanced nursing program tackles primary care shortage [OK]
Posted over 9 years ago by Nicholas M Perrino
"Working nurses will be trained to provide primary health care in underserved areas through a new program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
The doctor of nursing practice program is the first doctoral program in the 119-year history of the university. It will allow people with a bachelor of science in nursing to become nurse practitioners.
Fifty-five of Oklahoma's 77 counties are designated as federal shortage areas for primary health care professionals, with the shortage especially severe in rural areas. In some northwest Oklahoma counties, there are more than 3,000 residents for each primary care provider, and the shortage plays a large role in the poorer health outcomes of those residents.
The program is much needed in Oklahoma, said Blake Sonobe, vice chancellor for academic affairs with the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education. The only other doctor of nursing practice program offered at a public university in the state is at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
'In health care, there continues to be a large number of rural and underserved areas in Oklahoma, especially in primary care,' Sonobe said.
Approximately 90 percent of all nurses are prepared in primary care medicine, so giving them the additional education will help ease the shortage, he said."