Nursing Schools in Oregon

Guide to Oregon Nursing Degree Programs

People who are interested in working as nurses in Oregon should first consider studying in one of the many Oregon nursing schools. Having your education in the state and becoming a member of the nurses’ organizations in Oregon will make it easier for you to find employment in the top hospitals in Portland and other key cities in the state. Silverton Hospital and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland are just two of the many topnotch healthcare institutions in Oregon.

One good thing about being a nurse in Oregon and graduating from Oregon nursing schools is that you can easily become a member of nurses’ unions and organizations, which are very supportive of their members. Even before you graduate from school, you can already rely on the Oregon Student Nurses’ Association in providing you with trainings, resources, and even opportunities for scholarships and employment. Meanwhile, the Oregon Nurses Association has always been pushing for better opportunities and good working conditions for its registered nurse members. If you are Hispanic, you may also want to join the National Association of Hispanic Nurses – Oregon Chapter.

Lack of money for tuition is one of the main reasons why some students of Oregon nursing schools do not pursue their nursing degree. If you are one of these people, you need to know that there are grants and scholarships that are exclusively provided for people who want to secure a nursing degree in Oregon. If you plan to work in public health institutions after you graduate as a nurse, you can learn the requirements for scholarship application at the Lawrence R. Foster Memorial Scholarship. If any of your parents is a war veteran, the Oregon Legion Auxiliary Department Nurses Scholarship is perfect for you.

Oregon Nursing Job Outlook and Salary

According to the state’s Census Bureau, around one million people in Oregon will be over 65 by 2025. This means that the need for new nurses in the state will be huge. To make matters worse, by 2025, around 41% of registered nurses in Oregon will be retiring as based on figures from the Oregon Center for Nursing. As a result of the nurse shortage, many Oregon nursing schools will strive hard to increase the number of nursing degree applicants that they will be accepting in the future.

Both private and state health institutions are now giving registered nurses high starting salaries plus other benefits just to ensure that nurses stay in their jobs. A staff nurse in Portland can receive base salary anywhere from $53,664 to $78,086.