SEPTEMBER 2008: AROUND THE STATE
Nurses
remain recession-proof
STATEWIDE While many employees throughout Oregon are losing
their jobs or worried about keeping employed, nurses are
proving to be immune to the sick economy.
Statewide vacancy rates for nurse positions in hospitals and
long-term care facilities are growing despite an ongoing,
titanic effort by nursing schools to mint as many new nurses as
possible, says Kristine Campbell, executive director of the
Oregon Center for Nursing. Schools are operating at full
throttle and have punched out nearly 80% more graduates than
they did in 2001, she says. That’s created a concern that
the hyper-competitiveness of nursing-school admission may
backfire, discouraging people from going into the field.
The effort is still falling short though, experts say. Nearly
16,000 new nurses will be needed in Oregon over the next 15
years, yet schools are turning away six applicants for every
available spot in their programs. Although jobs remain
plentiful for nurses statewide, the exception is finding an
entry-level position in the Portland-metro area, Campbell
says.
For years, health-care organizations and industry experts have
sounded the alarm about a nurse shortage in the state. Last
year the state Legislature created a committee to help promote
the profession and direct funds to nursing schools struggling
to keep up with demand.
Oregon Health & Science University in Portland has nursing
positions available and is having a hard time filling them
because they require specialized nurses with experience, says
Mary Mochnal, director of nursing retention and recruitment at
the hospital.
Brandon Byars, manager of recruitment and retention at Kaiser
Northwest, says the health-care provider also needs experienced
nurses. “People are always going to get sick,” says
Byars, “and they are always going to need
nurses.”
JASON SHUFFLER
Have an opinion?
E-mail feedback@oregonbusiness.com
