On Wednesday, December 11, Executive Director Jana Bitton spoke before the Oregon State Legislature in Salem, Oregon. In the brief, the Oregon Center for Nursing shed light on the state’s nursing workforce shortage and the factors that impact it. Read the highlights of the informative brief below:
What’s Happening
- Oregon has more licensed nurses than ever—approximately 73,000 —with about 54,000 actively practicing (as of 2022).
- Out-of-state nurses drive growth: for every Oregon graduate, four nurses licensed in other states move here. Key states include Texas, Florida, California, and Washington.
- Many nurses are leaving traditional direct care roles for alternative careers (e.g., nurse coaching, case management) or flexible travel/temporary work.
- Workplace dissatisfaction leads to high turnover—more than 30% of nurses leave their jobs within the first year.
The Real Problem: More “Leaky Bucket,” Less Shortages
Why the Term “Nursing Shortage” Misses the Mark:
- Employers face chronic vacancies in long-term care, community-based settings, and rural areas despite record-high nurse numbers.
- Solutions focused solely on increasing nurse supply (e.g., funding nursing programs, K-12 pipeline initiatives) fail to address retention issues.
- Oregon’s nursing workforce operates like a “leaky bucket”: new nurses enter, but unhealthy work environments drive them away.
Policy Solutions: Strengthen and Sustain the Workforce
Stabilize Today’s Workforce:
- Enact policies to improve retention while maintaining investments in nursing education.
- Incentivize employer programs that ease transitions for nurses, such as residency programs for new graduates or up-skilling for those moving between care settings.
Protect Nurses in the Workplace:
- Address physical, mental, and emotional risks in healthcare roles.
- Prioritize workplace safety legislation to reduce violence and promote anti-bullying measures in healthcare settings.
Shift Focus:
- Reframe the conversation from “nursing shortages” to sustainable workforce solutions that improve conditions, retain talent, and fill critical vacancies.
