BRIEF: Oregonโ€™s Nurse Vacancy Crisis

Cover page of Oregonโ€™s Nurse Vacancy Crisis brief, published by the Oregon Center for Nursing in 2024.

Oregonโ€™s nursing workforce is growing, yet critical care roles remain unfilled. Traditional shortage narratives fail to capture deeper retention challenges affecting direct care. This brief reframes the problem and outlines urgent strategies to stabilize and support the profession.

How Much Do Oregonโ€™s Registered Nurses Earn? 2023 Oregon Wage Study

Cover image of the "2023 Oregonโ€™s Registered Nurse Wage Study" report from the Oregon Center for Nursing.

Compensation insights from more than 1,800 Oregon nurses uncover striking wage disparities by setting, role, and geography. From public health to hospital work, the findings offer a deep dive into how pay structures impact equity and sustainability in the nursing workforce. The report empowers leaders with data to guide retention and workforce planning.

Issues Facing the Post-Pandemic Nursing Workforce in Oregon

Cover image for 2020 report on post-pandemic nursing workforce issues in Oregon

COVID-19 intensified Oregon’s existing nursing workforce challenges, disrupting education pipelines and stressing care delivery systems. This report explores how these shifts affect nurse training, licensure trends, and frontline well-being. Nurse migration patterns and burnout risks reveal vulnerabilities that require immediate and strategic attention.

The Nurse Licensure Compact โ€“ a Primer

Cover of the 2020 primer on the Nurse Licensure Compact

Debates around the Nurse Licensure Compact continue as states weigh the benefits of streamlined licensing against regulatory concerns. This primer explains the NLCโ€™s mechanisms and outlines the arguments made in Oregonโ€™s policy discussions. With multi-state licensure on the rise, understanding its implications remains vital for nursing leadership.

Characteristics of the Nursing Workforce in Oregon – 2016

Cover image of the Characteristic of the Nursing Workforce in Oregon Report showing nurse and patient hands, symbolizing Oregon's nursing workforce

Nurses make up the largest share of Oregonโ€™s healthcare workforce, serving as essential contributors to care access, quality, and cost outcomes. This 2016 profile outlines age, education, gender, and licensure trends across practice settings and specialties. Workforce planners, educators, and employers will find critical context for responding to statewide healthcare demands.

The Demand for Nursing Professionals in Oregon

Cover image for OCNโ€™s 2016 report detailing projected nursing workforce needs in Oregon.

Nursing workforce shortages are mounting across Oregonโ€™s health sectors. Employers report rising turnover and persistent vacancy challenges, particularly in long term care and public health. As demand increases, the findings signal a critical need for system-wide strategies to support nursing workforce stability.

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