By Jade Morrow, Fox23 News
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation has proposed a $30 million partnership with the University of Oklahoma to repurpose a former tribal hospital into a new OU nursing school in a project that leaders said could significantly ease the nursing shortage in the area.
Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Cherokee Nation nursing staff said the proposal would have a lasting positive impact on health care in Oklahoma, particularly in rural areas.
Both Cherokee Nation leaders and nursing staff said they’re hopeful the Tribal Council will approve the proposal during its meeting on Monday night.
They said the project would help address a nursing shortage that has affected hospitals and clinics for years.
“To know that you don’t to retire because it’s going to leave your work family short if you leave or choose to do something different, it’s heart wrenching,” shared Rebecca Shepherd, the Chief Nursing Officer for the Cherokee Nation. “You want to see nursing thrive in this area and it can be really difficult.”
Shepherd said the shortage is felt not only in hospitals, but also in classrooms.
“We have a shortage of nursing instructors nationwide, but in Oklahoma as well. It’s hard to get into a nursing school or to have enough instructors for all of the people that would like to go to nursing school.”
Chief Hoskin said the demand for nurses continues to grow at both the state and national level.
“The state of Oklahoma has said it needs about 2,200 new registered nurses every year for the next decade,” said Chief Hoskin. “There’s about 64,000 nurses short in the country.”
Under this proposal, the Cherokee Nation and the University of Oklahoma would create what leaders call a “21st century Cherokee health care workforce” nursing school in Tahlequah.
Chief Hoskin explained, “It’ll be an operating nursing school through the University of Oklahoma. It’s also a space in the future that could be expanded to other types of education and training in the health care field.”
Chief Hoskin said the project might even eventually be able to support additional degrees and accelerated pathways into nursing.
“They have other degrees that want to get into nursing. This program can help them on an accelerated basis to get that Bachelor of Science in nursing.”
Shepherd said having a nursing school in the community could inspire future generations to pursue careers in health care.
“This is here in my community. I can do this. I can be a nurse. I can be a doctor. I can be whatever I want to be in health care. I really think we’re going to feel the impact for generations.”
If approved, online classes would begin this fall, with the new campus expected to open next fall in 2027.
The Cherokee National Tribal Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal during its Monday night meeting at 6:00 p.m.
