The OCN Blog
The Oregon Wellness Program: Supporting Healthcare Professionals With Free, Confidential Mental Health Counseling
As a nurse, you spend your days caring for others in an environment that is often physically demanding, emotionally complex, and mentally exhausting. Yet between caring for patients, supporting your
The Clinical Nurse Specialist: A Hidden Force in Oregon’s Healthcare System
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is one of the less visible Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) roles in Oregon, but its impact is anything but small. While fewer in number
Connecting the Dots: Why Oregon’s Economic Forecast Matters for the Nursing Workforce
Most people see a state revenue forecast and think about tax receipts. At the Oregon Center for Nursing (OCN), we look at these numbers as a weather report for the
Friday Huddle 2025: A Year of Nursing Workforce Conversations
Every Friday in 2025, Oregon’s nursing leaders, educators, and professionals gathered to share real-time workforce insights through the Friday Huddle. What began as a check-in evolved into the state’s only regular, open-access forum for candid, practical discussions across roles and regions. Now, with a full year complete, OCN reflects on the conversations that shaped the year and offers a look at what’s ahead.
Not Just Resilience: What It Really Takes to Support the Nursing Workforce
What if the path to nurse well-being didn’t start with resilience workshops, but with rethinking the systems that cause burnout? This blog explores how Oregon nurses are leading that shift through the Well-Being Project. Practical tools and real-world lessons from nurse-led pilots illuminate what happens when organizations listen, adapt, and act.
The Oregon Center for Nursing Recognizes Preceptors Across the State
Twenty nurse preceptors were honored at OCN’s fifth annual statewide awards ceremony for their critical role in mentoring and supporting peers. Nominated by colleagues and employers, these nurses exemplify professional excellence and workforce impact. The awards reinforce preceptors’ unique contributions to Oregon’s nursing sustainability.