Oklahoma
Nursing Home Worker Shortage Puts Aging Oklahomans at Risk – Oklahoma Watch
Every day nasal swabs and layers of gloves, masks and different protecting gear turned the norm for nursing dwelling workers on the top of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For some, these calls for stay a actuality and are a part of what’s driving staff out of the trade leaving getting older Oklahomans with out correct care.
Low pay and excessive stress have left greater than 30% of the state’s nursing houses short-handed, in line with the newest Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Providers knowledge.
Meaning elevated work for the remaining workers. Much less time spent with every resident. And decrease high quality of care.
Employees shortages are affecting houses in rural, city and suburban communities. With out staff, amenities are pressured to rent short-term workers at practically double the pay and in the reduction of on residents, which reduces their earnings and has led to the closure of at the very least six nursing houses since 2021.
Two further houses in Oklahoma Metropolis and Ardmore sit empty however haven’t formally closed, mentioned Steven Buck, who represents the state’s for revenue nursing houses at Care Suppliers Oklahoma.
Rural communities are hit particularly laborious by these closures, mentioned Mary Brinkley, who represents nonprofit nursing houses at LeadingAge Oklahoma.
When Servant Dwelling Heart in Medford closed within the fall of 2021, it was the one nursing dwelling within the city of 988 folks close to the Kansas border. The closest various for native households who wanted to discover a new dwelling for his or her cherished one was greater than 30 miles away. And if these beds had been full, it might be even additional.
Low pay and tough working circumstances have been constructing inside the trade for years, however they intensified in the course of the pandemic, Buck mentioned.
Nurses, aides, cooks and housekeepers risked their very own well being and the well being of their households to look after nursing dwelling residents as COVID ravaged group houses throughout the state, taking the lives of two,594 residents and 65 workers, federal knowledge exhibits.
Care Suppliers Oklahoma and LeadingAge Oklahoma, joined by the state hospital and nurses associations, requested lawmakers for $500 million in federal pandemic aid funds to handle “a debilitating healthcare employee scarcity critically exacerbated by COVID-19,” in line with its funding utility. The request was amongst 1,440 functions vying for the second part of American Rescue Plan Act funding given to the state. Legislators have dolled out many of the $1.87 billion in taxpayer funds. The employee scarcity request was not amongst them. About $85 million stays uncommitted.
This spring, the legislature allotted $4.5 million in COVID aid funds to Care Suppliers Oklahoma for workforce coaching and extra funding to nursing faculties.
Buck and Brinkley warn that extra is required, and quick, as Oklahoma’s elder inhabitants continues to extend. In any other case, households shall be left to pay for costly in-home care or could also be pressured to give up their jobs to remain dwelling and care for his or her family members, they mentioned.
Editor’s notice: Federal knowledge was up to date after the dialog with OETA was recorded. This story displays essentially the most present obtainable knowledge from the week of Sept. 25, 2022.
Whitney Bryen is an investigative reporter at Oklahoma Watch protecting weak populations. Her current investigations deal with psychological well being and substance abuse, home violence, nonprofits and nursing houses. Contact her at (405) 201-6057 or wbryen@oklahomawatch.org. Observe her on Twitter @SoonerReporter.
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The NC State Wolfpack won the first bout in their match against Oklahoma State, but those three points were the only ones NC State would earn all night, as the Cowboys dominated the Pack 34-3 in front of a wild home crowd.
Cael Hughes put the Cowboys on the board first with six huge team points via a pin over two-time All-American No. 7 Kai Orine of NC State; teammates No. 15 Carter Young and No. 14 Caleb Fish also added decisions in the first half of the dual at 141 and 157 pounds, respectively. No. 4 Tagen Jamison, meanwhile, added five points at 141 pounds with his fiery tech fall against Tyler Tracy of NC State.
Oklahoma State’s 197-pounder Luke Surber headlined the second half of the dual with his technical fall over No. 26 Christian Knop 18-2 for five team points of his own, while all four of his other teammates — No. 6 Cameron Amine, No. 3 Dean Hamiti, No. 3 Dustin Plott and No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson — settled for decisions.
The Pack wrestled Oklahoma State tough, particularly in the heavyweight match where U23 world champion Isaac Trumble had fellow U23 world champ Hendrickson in some trouble, but Hendrickson survived and held on to his undefeated record.
The Cowboys win over NC State gives the program its ninth victory against the Pack and a second dominant ACC win over a top-ten team this season. Oklahoma State will have No. 22 West Virginia and No. 7 Northern Iowa next on the schedule though the match that will be circled on the calendar now is the Cowboys’ meeting with the No. 2 Hawkeyes on Feb. 23.
Complete results:
| WEIGHT | BOUT RESULT | TEAM SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | No. 11 Vince Robinson over No. 2 Troy Spratley, 7-3 | 3-0, NC State |
| 133 | Cael Hughes over No. 7 Kai Orine, FALL | 6-3, OSU |
| 141 | No. 4 Tagen Jamison over Tyler Tracy, 21-5 | 11-3, OSU |
| 149 | No. 15 Carter Young over No. 33 Koy Buesgens, 5-2 | 14-3, OSU |
| 157 | No. 14 Caleb Fish over No. 12 Ed Scott, 12-5 | 17-3, OSU |
| 165 | No. 6 Cameron Amine over No. 32 Derek Fields, 5-2 | 20-3 OSU |
| 174 | No. 3 Dean Hamiti over No. 19 Matty Singleton, 8-4 | 23-3, OSU |
| 184 | No. 3 Dustin Plott over No. 11 Dylan Fishback, 5-0 | 26-3, OSU |
| 197 | No. 7 Luke Surber over No. 26 Christian Knop, 18-2 | 31-3, OSU |
| 285 | No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson over No. 4 Isaac Trumble, 10-4 | 34-3, OSU |
Jennie Baranczyk recaps OU women’s basketball win vs. New Mexico State
Jennie Baranczyk recaps OU women’s basketball win vs. New Mexico State
The Oklahoma women’s basketball team split a pair of SEC games last week.
OU (14-3, 2-2 SEC) suffered an 81-77 road loss to Mississippi State on Thursday. It then bounced back with a 77-62 home win over Texas A&M on Sunday.
OU dropped from No. 10 to No. 13 in the AP Top 25 Poll. It was ranked No. 11 last week in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, which will release this week’s rankings on Tuesday.
Each week, The Oklahoman will take a look at OU’s recent results, break down how its NCAA Tournament resume has changed and compare it to the competition. Here’s where the Sooners stand as of Monday:
Oklahoma basketball results last week
Jan. 9: Mississippi State 81, Oklahoma 77
OU stumbled in its 81-77 road loss to Mississippi State on Thursday. The Sooners committed 21 turnovers, which the Bulldogs converted into 25 points. This marked OU’s first loss to an unranked opponent this season, and the team dropped to 1-2 in SEC play.
Jan. 12: Oklahoma 77, Texas A&M 62
OU bounced back by earning a 77-62 home win over Texas A&M on Sunday. Raegan Beers recorded 16 points and six rebounds, but she exited the game with an apparent shoulder injury late in the third quarter and didn’t return. OU head coach Jennie Baranczyk didn’t have an update after the game on Beers, who’s averaging team highs of 17.2 points and 9.2 rebounds.
Oklahoma basketball NET rankings: No. 12 (last week: No. 11)
- Quad 1 record: 3-3
- Quad 2 record: 1-0
- Quad 3 record: 1-0
- Quad 4 record: 9-0
Bracketology projections
ESPN: No. 4 seed vs. No. 13 Drake in Norman (Region 3) as of Jan. 10.
Next up: Missouri
Matchup: Oklahoma (14-3, 2-2 SEC) vs. Missouri (11-8, 0-4 SEC)
Tipoff: 6 p.m. Thursday; Lloyd Noble Center in Norman
Livestream: SEC Network+
Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt has signed an executive order that allows colleges and universities within the state to directly compensate student-athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL).
This decision builds on the framework established by Senate Bill 1786, passed in 2024, and positions Oklahoma as a trailblazer in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving world of collegiate athletics.
Stitt’s order addresses a pressing issue: the fragmented and inconsistent NIL rules across the country.
While the NCAA and major conferences inch toward a settlement in the In College Athlete NIL Litigation, which could eventually allow direct payments, the timeline for a resolution remains uncertain.
Stitt’s action ensures that Oklahoma’s programs won’t have to wait.
By empowering universities to pay athletes now, the executive order eliminates the competitive disadvantage that could arise if other states or conferences move faster.
“This executive order ensures that these student-athletes have access to the same opportunities as their peers in other states,” Stitt said in a statement to The Oklahoman. “It’s about leveling the playing field and maintaining the competitive edge that defines Oklahoma athletics.”
The directive shields Oklahoma’s universities from potential fallout if no settlement is reached or if revenue sharing fails to be universally adopted.
Even in the absence of a federal resolution, Oklahoma schools will be equipped to support their athletes directly. This foresight guarantees stability in a landscape defined by uncertainty, setting a standard that other states may soon follow.
Crucially, the order prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for NIL payments, instead allowing the creation of foundations to act as clearinghouses for third-party contributions. These foundations provide a transparent and legally sound mechanism for entities to support athletes without fear of reprisal from organizations like the NCAA or athletic conferences.
Stitt’s move also addresses a unique challenge within Oklahoma’s collegiate landscape.
The state’s four Division I programs: The Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, and Tulsa Golden Hurricane compete in different conferences, each with its own NIL policies.
This fragmentation risks creating inequities among schools, but the executive order establishes a unified approach, ensuring all institutions can operate on a level playing field.
The response from Oklahoma’s university leaders has been overwhelmingly positive.
Oklahoma Sooners president Joseph Harroz Jr. praised the measure’s potential to support student-athletes while preparing institutions for the eventual transition to revenue sharing.
“This action strengthens our ability to recruit, retain, and cultivate extraordinary talent, positioning our student-athletes for success in every aspect of their lives,” Harroz said.
Oklahoma State president Kayse Shrum echoed these sentiments, highlighting how the order benefits both athletes and fans.
“Today’s executive order brings exciting possibilities for our institutions, our student-athletes, and our fans,” Shrum stated.
By enabling direct NIL payments now, Stitt’s executive order accelerates the shift from collective-driven compensation models to the more comprehensive revenue-sharing systems widely seen as the future of collegiate athletics.
This proactive approach ensures that Oklahoma’s programs won’t be left behind, even as federal and legal discussions drag on.
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