If you are a resident of Oklahoma and have considered becoming a CRNA, you may be wondering what options are available to you for CRNA training. Unfortunately, there are currently no schools offering CRNA degree programs located within the state of Oklahoma. However just because there are no CRNA schools in Oklahoma does not mean that you are not able to become a CRNA. If you are willing to relocate for the length of the CRNA program you choose, there are many options available to you in other nearby states. Some examples include the state of Texas which has 5 CRNA programs, the state of Kansas which has 2 in-state CRNA schools, and the state of Missouri which has 4. In addition, according to the Oklahoma Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OANA), there are several hospitals within Oklahoma that have residency programs for students from schools in neighboring states, so the option to complete some of your clinical training in Oklahoma may still be possible.
Attending school out-of-state may not have been in your original plans, but if you live in Oklahoma and would like to become a CRNA, it is currently the best option available to you. If you obtain your CRNA degree in another state, you always have the option of returning to Oklahoma to search for CRNA jobs and become a part of the CRNA community.
CRNAs in Oklahoma
According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, CRNAs safely administer over 34 million anesthetics each year in the United States. Anesthetics provide patients who are undergoing many types of different medical treatments with freedom from pain. Safe and effective anesthesia care is extremely important and allows physicians, dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to provide their patients with necessary and sometimes life-saving surgeries and procedures. CRNAs working in Oklahoma provide this service on a daily basis to all types of residents in many locations.
If you feel you have a future as a CRNA in Oklahoma you may be wondering about your potential future compensation. While it is impossible to predict future salary trends, the Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted a report in January of 2024 which gives some averages for CRNA salaries across the country at that time. The annual mean wage reported in Oklahoma was $151,250 and the range of CRNA salaries in Oklahoma fell between $145,020 and $158,840. These are simply averages, but they may help provide a general idea for potential salary ranges of CRNAs in Oklahoma.