Nurses are central to Oregon’s healthcare delivery, yet employers continue to face persistent challenges hiring and retaining qualified staff. This report draws on responses from 340 healthcare employers across multiple sectors—hospitals, long term care, home health/hospice, and public health—to illuminate demand pressures and emerging workforce patterns. Each sector presents a unique set of recruitment difficulties, shaped by specialization needs, location, and demographic factors.
The 2018 data reveal an uneven landscape: while hospitals report relative workforce stability, sectors like long term care face soaring vacancy and turnover rates. Contract labor plays a growing role, especially in hospitals, but it’s not a sustainable fix across the board. Employers also show interest in expanding positions for new graduates and nurses with advanced education, though hiring difficulty varies widely by specialty.
With rural and aging populations increasing demand, Oregon’s nursing workforce faces pressure points that cannot be addressed through one-size-fits-all policies. The report emphasizes the need for tailored, adaptive strategies rooted in the distinct dynamics of each healthcare setting. A collaborative response among employers, educators, and policymakers is essential to ensure nursing supply meets regional needs over time.
