ONP / Oklahoma Nurse Practitoners Home Page

About Us

The mission of the Oklahoma Nurse Practitioners Association is to advance, support, and promote the high standards of health care delivered by nurse practitioners.

As a statewide professional association, we focus on the common needs of our members. We recognize the professional and political concerns facing nurse practitioners. ONP has always played a major role in facilitating and supporting changes in legislation that advance the role of the nurse practitioner. ONP believes that by providing better networking among our members, we will be better able to promote high standards of health care and thereby enhance the identity and continuity of nurse practitioners in our state.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse Practitoner examining a child

A Nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who is prepared, through advanced education and clinical training, to provide a wide range of preventive and acute health care services to individuals of all ages. NPs complete graduate-level education preparation that leads to a master's degree. NPs provide physical examinations, diagnose and treat many common acute and chronic problems, interpret laboratory results and X-rays, prescribe and manage medications and other therapies, provide training and supportive counseling with an emphasis on prevention of illness and health maintenance, and refer patients to other health professionals as needed.

This informative video explains the value of receiving health care from a nurse practitioners.

View Video

Member's Forum

The forum is an virtual online community of ONP Members, created to foster discussions, share ideas and post content important to the NP profession. We will verify your membership and approve your access to the forum as soon as possible. Approvals generally process within one day.

A preceptor list is available, through the ONP Members Forum to student members who need to complete their clinicals.

Go to the Forum

Clarification on Nurse Practitioner's Licensure

The changes to the NP titles, passed this last legislative session, were made at the request of the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. It was based on Advisory Committee recommendations from last summer's work creating a model for the "National Practice Act" and goes into effective November 1, 2011. The new licensure changes keeps Oklahoma in line with national regulations and guidelines and was intended to benefit Oklahoma NPs seeking employment to work anywhere in the country.

Please read the attached letter from ONP's executive director regarding licensure changes. Everything written by ONP Executive Director, Benny Vanatta, has been reviewed and edited by Kim Glazier, Executive Director, Oklahoma Board of Nursing.

Read Now

In the Spotlight

Southeast Regional Representative Vacancy

With the election of Sandra Weiland as Secretary to the ONP Executive Board, the Southeast Regional Representative position is open. The S.E. Representative must live or work in Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Marshall, McCurtain, Okfuskee, Pittsburg, Ponotoc, Pottawatamie, Pushmataha, or Seminole counties.

To be eligible to be a regional representative the member shall be a regular member (not a student), and shall have been a member in good standing for at least a year.

Please contact Benny Vanatta, ONP Executive Director, if you fit this criteria and are interested.

Survey Finds More Nurses Use Mobile Devices

A survey of more than 1,000 nurses, most of them nurse educators with advanced degrees, revealed that 74.6% were smartphone or tablet computer owners. Researchers from Springer Publishing also found that 68.4% are on Facebook, while 37.3% are on LinkedIn. "These findings indicate the rapid growth of mobile technology use among those in the health care industry," a company official said.

ONP Board Meeting

Don't forget about the quarterly ONP Board Meeting!

When & Where

ICU Outcomes No Different Without Physician Staffing

Take a look at the lastest news story about a study of NPs providing safe care to ICU patients.

18th Annual ONP Conference

Get Ready for the 18th Annual ONP Conference - Mark your Calendars Now!