2025 Oregonโs Nurse Well-Being

Persistent stress and emotional fatigue continue to weigh on Oregonโs 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.
From Burnout to Belonging: Nurse-Designed Approaches to Workforce Well-Being in Oregon

What happens when nurses design the solutions to their own workplace stress? Across Oregon, 18 nurse-led initiatives did just that, reshaping care environments and reframing well-being from the inside out. Discover how voice, equity, and system-level design replaced quick fixes and built lasting change.
BRIEF: Oregonโs Nurse Vacancy Crisis

Oregonโs 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 Oregonโs Registered Nurses Earn? 2023 Oregon Wage Study

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 Oregonโs Nursing Programs

Simulation-based instruction has become a key tool in Oregonโs 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 Oregonโs Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations

Oregonโs nursing workforce is shaped by more than staffing numbers. This collaborative study was commissioned to uncover whatโs driving instabilityโand 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

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 nursesโ 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

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.
Primary Care Workforce Crisis Looming in Oregon: Nurse Practitioners Vital to Filling the Gap, But Not Enough to Go Around

Oregon faces an urgent primary care shortage, with only a fraction of nurse practitioners delivering direct primary care services. Despite favorable practice laws, the state struggles to align NP capacity with community needs. Policymakers must rethink workforce distribution to avoid deepening care disparities statewide.
The Demand for Nursing Professionals in Oregon โ 2018

Employer perspectives across Oregonโs healthcare sectors reveal rising turnover and vacancy rates, especially in long term care. Survey findings uncover how workforce challenges vary dramatically across hospitals, public health, home health, and hospice settings. With regional shortages looming, employer responses suggest that targeted, sector-specific strategies are critical to stabilize Oregonโs nursing pipeline.