Understanding Oregon’s Nursing Workforce Supply, Demand and Distribution

Cover page of Understanding Oregon’s Nursing Workforce: Supply, Demand, and Distribution (2022—2024) research report

Shifting narratives around Oregon’s nursing workforce reveal a more complex reality than a simple shortage. Growth in licensed professionals contrasts with persistent hiring challenges across specific regions and care settings. A closer look highlights how workforce distribution and employment conditions shape access to care across the state.

2025 Oregon’s Nurse Well-Being

Cover infographic visualizing nurse well-being trends from 2022 to 2025, highlighting stress levels, support needs, and emotional symptoms.

Persistent stress and emotional fatigue continue to weigh on Oregon’s nursing workforce, even as the emergency phase of the pandemic has passed. Most nurses still manage their mental health independently, and day-to-day work pressures remain the top reported stressor. The need for organizational change is clear as systemic strain endures across the profession.

BRIEF: Oregon’s Nurse Vacancy Crisis

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

Oregon’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 Oregon’s Registered Nurses Earn? 2023 Oregon Wage Study

Cover image of the "2023 Oregon’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.

Comparison of the Perception of Clinical Instruction: In-Facility, Face-to-Face Simulation, and Virtual Simulation Experiences in Oregon’s Nursing Programs

Cover image of the Comparison of the Perception of clinical instruction report showing nursing students participating in simulation-based clinical training.

Simulation-based instruction has become a key tool in Oregon’s nursing education, especially during pandemic-era disruptions. This study explores how students and faculty perceive in-facility, face-to-face, and virtual simulation methods. Findings reveal notable differences between student and faculty viewpoints across instructional environments.

The Future of Oregon’s Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations

Report cover titled “The Future of Oregon’s Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations,” published in 2022.

Oregon’s nursing workforce is shaped by more than staffing numbers. This collaborative study was commissioned to uncover what’s driving instability—and what to do about it. Grounded in data and statewide input, the report surfaces actionable insights on retention, preparation, and the evolving realities of nursing practice.

A New View on Nurse Turnover: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Shocked the System

Cover image for “A New View on Nurse Turnover” 2021 report on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted nurse retention.

High nurse turnover rates were already a concern before COVID-19, but the pandemic introduced an unprecedented disruption to workforce stability. This publication explores how pandemic-related shocks altered nurses’ perceptions of job fit, community ties, and the value of staying. Understanding these shifts helps leaders better support retention and workforce cohesion.

Not Working Well: Clinical Placement for Nursing Students in an Era of Pandemic

Cover image for 2020 OCN report on disrupted nursing student clinical placements during the pandemic

Faced with the urgency of a global health crisis, nursing education programs and healthcare agencies in Oregon scrambled to adapt clinical placement strategies. This publication captures the resulting stress, innovation, and breakdowns that surfaced as traditional education pipelines were upended. Interviews across sectors reveal a critical moment of reckoning for how students are prepared for practice.

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