OCU Nursing Program Sets New Record

OKLAHOMA CITY— Oklahoma City University’s Bachelor’s-to-BSN program has a record 45 students enrolled in its latest class. Nearly half of the students who began classes Jan. 12 are men, signaling a new trend that OCU’s Kramer School of Nursing Dean Marvel Williamson says can help overcome the nation’s nursing shortage.

Oklahoma City University recently launched its Moving and Mentoring Men into Nursing program and offered 12 scholarships to deserving male students pursuing careers in nursing. Funding for the $10,000 scholarships was provided by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Scholarship recipients are men who already hold bachelor’s degrees in other fields and have enrolled in OCU’s accelerated 16-month Bachelor’s-to-BSN program.

Nathan Silva, a firefighter from California who battled some of the recent wildfires, is one the 22 men studying to become a nurse at OCU as part of the new mentorship program.

“Nursing has been in the back of my mind for a long time,” explained Silva, 30, who holds degrees in history and political science. “The first part of your life is the adventure part, but you have to help out at some point and this is something that will enable me to give back a little.”

David Jackson just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Army and opted to pursue a nursing degree. He served 15 years with the Army and was discharged Jan. 11 as a first lieutenant. Jackson holds a general studies degree, an MBA and has completed PhD work in aviation and space science.

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