Nurse Moving to OKC in May 2012 (Oklahoma City, Norman: home, salary, living)

[Lost Nurse]

After a lot of research on-line, I have decided to move to your city.
Would like to hear from nurses about the hospitals in the area. Like
the patient to nurse ratio, team work atmosphere?, expected pay for
a RN with 13 years of med-surg experience.
Thanks

Anyone can tell me which hospital they prefer for good care.

[happytown]

I believe St. Anthonys(Midtown) is currently leading the way for best care. OHSC is the 4th largest medical research/Hospital centers in the U.S. and growing by the minute. Its also the only level 1 in Oklahoma which is a rather large accomplishment. Wish I had been a RN, bc they are certainly raking in the cash right now! I have heard of many sign on incentives for RNs for hospitals in OKC including Mercy on Memorial Rd. Good luck. Hopefully an actual nurse can give you more info.
Im sure you probably are familar w this link... http://health.usnews.com/best-hospit...lahoma-city-ok

[debzkidz]

I'm not a nurse, but I will also say that the Integris Hospitals here are good as well. I've had surgery at their main campus/Baptist Hospital and really liked it, well as much as you can like a place they are cutting you open! Had the same procedure again at OUHSC one year later. Nurses were fabulous at both but preferred Integris overall. Integris has also just opened a new hospital in Edmond, and our family has already had the pleasure of checking out their ER. Very nice place. Very nice people.

[Lost Nurse]

Thanks for the information.
ps Love your photos.

[SOROKC]

I will be relocating to Oklahoma City pretty quick here for a job with the Department of Veteran Affairs. A couple of months ago prior to accepting the job I took a tour of the facility.

When I was visiting the Oklahoma City V.A. over a period of several days, there were lots of jobs for nurses but the bulk of them required you be an existing federal employee (status candidates). Everyone in Oklahoma City is a lot happier and paid more compared to where I am from, Oregon, despite the increase cost of living. The working conditions were the complete opposite from where I am from (in a good way), and almost made me ask, "What have I've been missing all this time?" I've lived in this small town for over 20-years and I didn't hesitate to jump on the opportunity, so that should say something.

The trick is to get into the federal system, and apply for other jobs.

On a side note, I've seriously considered becoming a nurse. When I found out what nurse anesthetist make and could get it by age 25, I knew I was in wrong profession.

Good luck!

[debzkidz]

I see ads of TV all the time for nurses for the V.A. They must be in real need.

[eddie gein]

Integris has 4 facilities in the OKC metro. Baptist, Southwest, Yukon and Edmond. The Edmond Hospital is brand new.

St Anthony has two campuses.

OUHSC and Veterans are on the Health Science campus as is OU children's hospital. OUHSC also has the Edmond Hospital now.

Deaconess is a smaller hospital that a lot of people like.

Mercy is in the ritzy part of town and just acquired the Hospital in Guthrie,

A group of Doctors has a hospital on SW 89th that has been reported to be a good one.

Suburban options include Midwest City, Norman has two plus a state mental facility. There is also a Veteran's center in Norman that is sort of a giant nursing home.

Moore has a hospital run by Norman.

There are also hospitals in Bethany (which also has a large children's center) along with one's in El Reno, and two in Shawnee Oklahoma.

Further out, Purcell, Kingfisher, and Chickasha all have hospitals.

There are also probably 6 or so small specialty hospitals in OKC.

My guess on salary with your experiences would be 45-70K if you included all jobs in the area including hospital, nursing home, home health etc.

Maybe even higher if you took a supervisory position

[Lost Nurse]

Thanks for your input.
B

[flying_hi]

I am a therapist in OKC and have worked PRN or contract at most of the major hospital systems in OKC. Look seriously at Community Hospital and their affiliates. This is one of the best run hospitals and employee centered places that I have ever been to. It is owned by a group of doctors and it is comprised of a small hospital (like 50 beds) with an additional rehab wing, a surgical hospital and a bunch of clinics. I think they mainly do ortho and cardiac. The nurse-patient ratio is low and everyone I know who works there is very happy. The pay is very competitive as well and people stay there for many years. If I wanted to go somewhere full time, this is where I would work. Most people around town don't know it exists and they don't do a lot of advertising, but it really is a cool place to work.

[debzkidz]

There's also Lakeside Women's Hospital. I've heard it's very nice, but personally have never been to it.