Demand for nurses in Oregon continues to rise, even as hospitals use contract labor
Demand for nurses continues to grow in Oregon, especially in long-term care, home health and hospice and public health, according to a new survey from the Oregon Center for Nursing.
While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicted a small nurse surplus in Oregon by 2030, they won’t be distributed evenly, and some areas of the state won’t have enough qualified nurses, the report found. Rural communities across the state “face increasing pressure to recruit and retain qualified nurses,” the report says.
“When we talk about nursing shortages, it’s not necessarily in a hospital in an urban area,” said Center for Nursing Executive Director Jana Bitton. “If you were to talk to somebody in a rural part of the state or managing a long-term care facility, they would say there’s a shortage.”
Employers face difficulties in recruiting, hiring and retaining qualified nurses “across the spectrum of health care,” the nursing center found… (Readmore)