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SSM Health System operates SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, a faith-based healthcare facility in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The SSM in the company’s name pays tribute to the Sisters of St. Mary, a group of nuns who came from Germany to St. Louis, Missouri, to minister to the sick. This legacy of healing has undergone many changes since the 1800s, and SSM Health facilities remain committed to providing the best possible patient care.
As one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the United States, SSM Health offers many opportunities for nurses at all stages of their careers, from the recent graduate to the registered nurse who’s been working at the bedside for years. This guide provides an overview of the opportunities available at SSM Health in Oklahoma City and information about local amenities of interest to travel nurses.
SSM Health System Facts
The SSM Health system has more than 40,000 employees and 10,000 providers across all its locations in four states. SSM St. Anthony Hospital is its primary healthcare employer in Oklahoma City, with 773 beds, while SSM Health Bone & Joint at St. Anthony has 33 beds. The health system also operates several medical offices in Oklahoma City, including SSM Health Heart & Vascular Care. Overall, the SSM Health system has 23 hospitals, 13 post-acute care facilities and more than 300 physician offices. Patients also have access to hospice, home health care and other related services.
The Sisters of St. Mary started their healing ministry in 1872, but the SSM Health system wasn’t formed until 1986, uniting multiple hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities. Sister Mary Jean Ryan served as the first president and chief executive officer of the integrated health system.
While SSM Health has always focused on healing, the organization didn’t have a formal mission statement until 2000. That mission statement, which is still in use today, focuses on providing compassionate care to patients of all backgrounds and states: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.”
Diversity and Inclusion at SSM Health
SSM Health has a long history of promoting diversity and inclusion. In 1933, the Franciscan Sisters of Mary opened the first Catholic hospital for Black Americans. This facility gave patients of color access to high-quality medical care and provided Black doctors opportunities to practice as physicians.
Today, SSM Health has a firm diversity policy and is working to create a more inclusive society. The diversity policy prohibits harassment and discrimination based on the following characteristics:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- National origin
- Sexual orientation
- Veteran status
- Military status
- Religious background
- Pregnancy status
- Mental disability
- Physical disability
- Genetic makeup
- Citizenship
- Age
- Sex
- Marital status
SSM Health also calls for the “rigorous pursuit of fairness and equality in employment.” The facility expects employees, vendors and affiliates to follow the policy at all times.
Specialty Care at SSM Health Oklahoma City
The SSM Health St. Anthony Healthplex features a fully licensed, free-standing emergency room. Top specialties at the healthcare facility include oncology, cardiology, orthopedic surgery, behavioral medicine and surgery. St. Anthony Hospital is home to the Frank C. Love Cancer Institute, which uses innovative technologies to diagnose and treat many types of cancer. These technologies include the CyberKnife and the linear accelerator, an advanced tool that allows for more precise targeting of cancer cells with a beam of radiation. It also has a breast center with digital mammography, lab and diagnostic radiology services and is designated as an advanced primary stroke center by the Joint Commission.
Recognized as one of the top orthopedic hospitals in the country, SSM Health Bone & Joint at St. Anthony Hospital has a history of excellence in patient safety. It provides high-quality orthopedic care to patients with a wide range of needs, pain management and workers’ compensation services. Oklahoma Sports & Orthopedics Institute providers perform hip replacements, knee replacements, minimally invasive joint procedures, spine surgery, hand surgery and other procedures at all SSM Health Bone & Joint clinic locations.
Honors and Awards
SSM Health has received many awards over the past two decades. In 2016, SSM St. Anthony Hospital received the Guardian of Excellence – Physician Engagement award, which honors healthcare organizations in the 95th percentile for physician engagement. In 2018, SSM St. Anthony Hospital and SSM Bone & Joint at St. Anthony in Oklahoma City received awards for patient safety excellence. SSM St. Anthony Hospital received an “A” safety rating in the same year. An A rating indicates that a facility scored at least 3.202 out of a possible 3.9.
SSM Health has received several awards based on the performance of all hospitals within its network. For example, SSM Health was the first healthcare organization to win the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. An independent board of examiners grants the Baldrige Award based on high performance in product and process, financial and market, leadership and governance, workforce and customer outcomes.
Nursing Opportunities
Nurse Externship Program
Nursing professionals play an important role at SSM Health, prompting executives to look for ways to help them launch rewarding careers, gain new skills and increase their confidence. In August 2022, SSM Health announced a new externship program designed to “increase the pipeline for future nurses.”
Program participants can work with experienced nurses and rotate through multiple clinical areas, allowing them to explore their interests while gaining valuable knowledge and skills. In addition to hourly pay, externs receive tuition reimbursement. SSM Health representatives also work with colleges and universities to ensure that externs can earn college credit for their work. The program initially rolled out in the St. Louis region, but SSM Health expects to expand the program into Oklahoma and other states.
Flexible Nursing Opportunities
In October 2022, company representatives announced flexible employment options for nurses. The new approach consists of seven programs designed to help nurses achieve their career goals. PRN1 through PRN4 are for nurses who want to work on an as-needed basis. PRN1 requires a minimum of two shifts per month, PRN2 is for nurses who can commit to three shifts per month and PRN3 requires a minimum of one shift per week.
Nurses interested in the benefits of full-time travel nursing without the travel may benefit from the PRN4 program. If you participate in the PRN4 program, you’re assigned to the same unit for your entire assignment. Each assignment lasts 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the organization’s needs. Nurses in the PRN4 program also qualify for tuition reimbursement and career development opportunities.
SSM Health offers nursing float programs, as well. Nurses in the Health Ministry Float move through different units within the same ministry, providing opportunities for skill development and networking. The Regional Float Procedural and Regional Float Inpatient programs allow nurses to work at multiple SSM Health facilities within a particular region. Nurses in the Regional Float Procedural program receive the highest hourly pay rate.
All seven programs pay a base rate and an hourly differential. Participants in the float programs have access to SSM Health benefits, while nurses in the PRN4 program have access to tuition reimbursement and opportunities for career advancement. The PRN1– PRN3 programs don’t offer benefits. Depending on the program chosen, you may also qualify for a sign-on bonus.
Nursing Professional Practice Model
SSM Health has a professional nursing practice model to create a culture of excellence and ensure all nurses work toward the same goals. The model also clarifies expectations, makes it easier to prioritize nursing work and gets nurses involved in maintaining high standards of care. SSM Health’s professional nursing practice model emphasizes the following:
- Collaborating to advance the profession and achieve excellence
- Maintaining accountability for patients, colleagues and family members
- Serving as leaders within the care team
- Fulfilling the SSM Health mission
- Creating an innovative healthcare environment
- Advocating for patients, especially members of marginalized groups
Employment Benefits and Perks
SSM Health offers comprehensive benefits for nursing professionals. Nurses at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and other facilities have access to opportunities for continuing education. SSM Health has accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which means the CEUs you earn will likely count toward the requirements for keeping your nursing license active. SSM Health also offers multiple development pathways for nurses and encourages nursing professionals to obtain certifications that help demonstrate their specialized knowledge and skills.
Eligible employees have access to several benefits, including health insurance, pharmacy benefits, dental insurance, vision insurance, paid time off and retirement. As of January 1, 2021, SSM Health offers both parents 40 hours of paid parental leave. This benefit includes adoptions, giving new parents time to bond with their children. SSM Health even has a hospital discount program for employees.
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and SSM Health Bone & Joint at St. Anthony Hospital are both located in Midtown, just north of the city’s central business district. SSM Health’s Oklahoma City facilities are also easily accessible via I-40. Employees can access multiple parking lots for their convenience, and several bus routes pass near SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital.
SSM Health, OKC Contact Information
SSM St. Anthony Hospital
1000 N. Lee Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 272-7000
SSM Health Bone & Joint at St. Anthony
1111 N. Dewey Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
(405) 272-9671
Working in Oklahoma City
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital is centrally located, making it easy to find restaurants, museums, cultural attractions and outdoor activities nearby. Lake Hefner Park, Oklahoma University, the Oklahoma State Capitol and the University of Central Oklahoma are just a short distance away.
Several nearby restaurants offer options for nearly any budget or desired cuisine for lunch or after work. Popular options include Mo’ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food, La Herencia Mexican Grill, Louie’s Grill and Bar and Teriyaki Madness. With so many amenities, living in Oklahoma’s capital is ideal for hospital staff while offering travel nurses and allied health professionals plenty of reasons to accept assignments at local SSM Health facilities.
