Just over 1900 of Oregon's licensed nurse practitioners are currently practicing in Oregon, and 46 percent of them are age 55 or older. Demand for nurse practitioners is expected to be strong as many older NPs retire over the coming years.
The vast majority of Oregon nurse practitioners (nearly 50 percent) work in an ambulatory care office or clinic; approximately 17 percent work in Oregon hospitals. Oregon NPs do not need a collaborative practice agreement with a physician to legally practice or prescribe medication.
The average annual salary for a nurse practitioner in Oregon ranges from $86,000 to $92,000, with NPs in Portland earning more than NPs in the state's rural areas.
Some of the top NP programs in Oregon include:
- Oregon Health & Science University. Located in Portland, Oregon Health & Science University offers a unique Family Nurse Practitioner program. Students can choose a two-year option that culminates in a master's degree and eligibility for certification as a FNP. Or, students can attend for three years and receive their master's degree on their way to a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP). Beginning in 2015, The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) will require all nurse practitioners to have a DNP to practice as an advanced practice nurse.
- Portland University. Portland U has phased out their master's-level nurse practitioner program all together and now offers a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a Family Nurse Practitioner focus.
- Georgetown University. Though located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown University offers online NP programs that are accessible to nurses in Oregon. Students can select either a Family Nurse Practitioner program or the Nurse Midwifery/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program. Academic classes are web-based; Georgetown faculty work with students to arrange clinical experiences close to home.
Accredited schools with NP programs in Oregon:
