Cherokee Nation and OU Launch Historic $30M Nursing School

Oklahoma is facing major nurse staffing shortages, and the Cherokee Nation isn’t standing idly by. Teaming up with the University of Oklahoma (OU), they’ve announced a $30 million partnership to create a satellite campus for the OU College of Nursing in Tahlequah. This isn’t just any run-of-the-mill project. It’s the largest health education investment in Cherokee Nation history. The plan is to transform the old W.W. Hastings Hospital into the Cherokee Nation Nursing and Allied Health Education Center.

Dr. Rebecca Shepherd, Chief Nursing Officer for Cherokee Nation Health Services, summed up the excitement best: “This moment represents vision, partnership, and a shared commitment to the future health of our people.”

And honestly, this couldn’t come at a better time.

Oklahoma’s Nurse Staffing Shortages

Let’s talk numbers for a second. Oklahoma needs over 2,200 new registered nurses every year just to keep up with demand. If workforce capacity does not increase, the state could face a gap of nearly 6,000 RNs by 2038. That’s not exactly a small problem to solve. Making matters worse, Oklahoma is currently ranked 48th in the nation for health outcomes, and it’s one of the top 10 states struggling with nursing shortages.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. didn’t mince words: “Oklahoma in this decade will need more than 2,200 new registered nurses every year just to keep up. All this while the United States is about 64,000 nurses short.”

The pandemic made these shortages painfully clear. OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. pointed out that during COVID-19, “people were dying because there weren’t enough nurses available.” That reality exposed just how fragile nurse staffing levels can be when demand spikes.

To address these shortages, the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council gave their unanimous approval to the partnership on January 12, 2026. A week later, Chief Hoskin signed it into law. The new campus is set to open in 2027, after the current hospital relocates to a new $400 million facility later this year.

Image: FOX23 News Tulsa

Big Moves for Nursing Education

This isn’t OU’s first effort to address nurse staffing shortages. Back in 2022, the university made a significant change. Instead of turning away 80 percent of qualified Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) applicants, they began accepting all of them. That decision doubled annual nursing graduates from 300 to over 600.

The new Tahlequah nursing campus will be OU’s sixth location, and President Harroz is calling it “arguably our most important campus.” The program will begin offering online courses in fall 2026, with the physical campus opening the following year. Initially, the focus will be on associate-degree RNs and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who want to earn their BSN. As enrollment grows, additional programs are expected to follow.

This campus isn’t just about more degrees; it’s about creating a pipeline of skilled nurses to serve Oklahoma’s communities, including the Cherokee Nation’s health system, which provides over 3 million patient services annually.

Investing in the Future of Native Nursing

Beyond the new campus, the Cherokee Nation is expanding its commitment to healthcare education through several targeted investments:

• A $5.15 million endowment for Cherokee Nursing and Allied Health Scholarships, including loan repayment opportunities for those who work in the tribal health system.
  
  
• $1 million annually for college scholarships and youth career programs focused on health professions.
  
  
• $1 million annually for non-degree health career training grants, recognizing that strong care teams rely on many roles beyond RNs and physicians.
  
  

These efforts fall under the Cherokee Nation’s 21st Century Cherokee Healthcare Workforce Initiative. One major goal is to increase Native American representation in nursing. Currently, Native Americans account for just 0.4 percent of nurses nationwide, a gap this initiative directly aims to address.

Tribal Councilor Sasha Blackfox-Qualls, who is also a registered nurse, put it plainly: “By investing in our healthcare workforce, we are investing in the well-being of our communities.”

A Model for the Future

This partnership between the Cherokee Nation and OU could serve as a blueprint for other underserved regions facing nurse staffing shortages. By aligning tribal leadership, academic institutions, and healthcare systems, it shows how workforce gaps can be addressed through long-term investment rather than short-term fixes.

For nurses, it’s a reminder that progress doesn’t just happen at the bedside. It also happens through education, advocacy, and community-driven solutions. Efforts like this help ensure that nurses are supported, patients receive timely care, and communities are better prepared for the future.

What This Means for Nurses

• More education pathways: Expanded access to BSN programs and bridge options for LPNs and associate-degree RNs can open doors without forcing nurses to leave their communities.
  
  
• Stronger local staffing: Training nurses where they are most needed directly supports efforts to reduce nurse staffing shortages.
  
  
• Financial support opportunities: Scholarships, loan repayment, and employer-backed education can reduce long-term financial strain.
  
  
• Improved care environments: Addressing nurse staffing shortages supports safer workloads, better patient outcomes, and career longevity.
  
  
• Representation matters: Increasing Native American participation in nursing strengthens culturally responsive care and leadership within healthcare systems.
  
  

Short version: this isn’t just a new campus. It’s a long-term investment in nurses, patients, and the fight against nurse staffing shortages across Oklahoma.

🤔Nurses, share your thoughts on this investment in the discussion forum below!