Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) hosted the second annual Nursing Transitions Summit on Monday, drawing more than 100 nursing students eager to launch their careers in the local healthcare system. The event, organized by OCCC faculty and student‑success staff, brought together representatives from eight metro‑area hospitals for a day of networking, career workshops and recruiter roundtables.
Local hospitals stress urgent need for nurses
“We want these nurses to join our community. We need them desperately in healthcare,” said Ericka Williams, a student‑success specialist and professor of nursing at OCCC. Hospital leaders echoed that sentiment, emphasizing a growing shortage of qualified nurses across Oklahoma and the critical role new graduates will play in maintaining safe, high‑quality patient care.
Students learn to brand themselves
Tonya Faires, another OCCC nursing faculty member, explained that the summit’s goal is to help students understand their worth in the marketplace. “Our goal with this is our students know their worth and how valuable they are to the marketplace. How to go for the best offer, how to be picky so they are empowered to do that,” she said.
Workshops covered résumé building, interview techniques and salary negotiation, giving students concrete tools to secure the best possible positions. Many attendees reported that the hands‑on guidance helped them feel confident about entering a competitive job market.
Job offers on the spot
The recruiter roundtable proved especially fruitful. Several students received job offers immediately, filling a range of positions from staff nurses to specialty units. The rapid hiring reflects hospitals’ urgent need to staff their floors as patient volumes rise.
Student perspectives
“Find something you’re passionate about. Stick to it. It’s not about where you start, it’s where you finish,” said senior nursing student Sara Coley, who is set to graduate in December. Lillie Benson, another senior slated to graduate in May 2027, added, “Believe in yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.” Both students noted that while the path to licensure has been challenging, the support from OCCC and the promise of local employment make the effort worthwhile.
Event growth and future outlook
Attendance more than doubled compared with the inaugural summit last year, signaling both heightened interest among students and increased participation from hospitals. Organizers plan to expand the event further, adding more specialty tracks and inviting additional healthcare partners to ensure that Oklahoma City continues to attract and retain qualified nursing talent.
By connecting future nurses directly with employers and equipping them with career‑building skills, the Nursing Transitions Summit underscores the community’s commitment to strengthening the local healthcare workforce – a vital component of Oklahoma’s broader effort to provide quality care for families across the region.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
