Oregon’s nursing workforce experiences continual change as new graduates, experienced nurses, and nurse practitioners enter practice. This publication follows three cohorts licensed in 2010 and 2011—RNs by examination, RNs by endorsement, and newly certified nurse practitioners—to assess where they were practicing by the end of 2014. By linking workforce licensure and renewal data, the analysis provides a clear view of early career outcomes for nurses across practice areas, positions, and regions.
The results reveal significant variation in retention. Nearly eight in ten nurses licensed by exam were working as Oregon RNs, compared to just one in three licensed by endorsement. Among nurse practitioners, seven in ten were working in Oregon. Geographic concentration was notable, with the vast majority of all groups practicing along the I-5 corridor, particularly in the Portland Metro area.
These findings underscore how new nurses and advanced practice providers are distributed within Oregon’s health system, highlighting both areas of stability and concern. Understanding these entry patterns is critical for workforce planning, particularly in ensuring adequate distribution of providers across settings and regions.
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