The Oregon Center for Nursing (OCN) recently released a new report, Trends in Oregon Nursing Education, 2012-2018, examining the long-term trends in the state’s nursing education pipeline. This comprehensive report provides crucial insights into how nursing education programs evolve in Oregon, highlighting significant trends and potential impacts on the nursing workforce.
“It all starts with education,” said OCN’s Executive Director, Jana Bitton. “Understanding Oregon’s capacity to educate future nurses is a vital component to ensuring our state has the nursing workforce it needs.” The report underscores the importance of nursing education as the foundation for building a robust and adequately staffed healthcare system in Oregon.
Examining the Data Behind Oregon Nursing Education
The report used data collected from nursing education programs across Oregon by the Oregon State Board of Nursing. The data reveals two-year associate degree nursing programs show signs of shrinking, while four-year bachelor’s degree programs have consistently grown. This shift in education trends is significant. Changing preferences and demands are occurring.
“We are continuing to look at community or regional maldistribution of Oregon’s nursing workforce. The growth, or lack thereof, of education programs will have a downstream impact,” Bitton said. “Associate degree nursing programs are a key source of nurses in Oregon’s rural communities. Further, Oregon is not currently educating enough nurses to meet employer demand. Therefore, employers rely on recruiting nurses from out-of-state to meet their needs.”
The Real Impact on Oregon's Rural Communities
The shrinking of associate degree programs is particularly concerning for rural areas. These programs have traditionally been vital sources for nursing professionals. This imbalance could exacerbate the existing challenges in ensuring an equitable distribution of the nursing workforce across the state.
Oregon continues to face challenges in meeting the demand for nursing professionals. Many look to the education nursing pipeline to help produce a more resilient and capable nursing workforce. The full report, Trends in Oregon Nursing Education, 2012-2018, is available to download from the OCN research library.
