[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /]Oregon has a significant nursing shortage. As a largely rural state, there are many medically underserved areas where demand for nurses is very high. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in order to attract more high quality nurses to the state, the salaries are above the national average, standing at $106,610, and rising. This makes it a very interesting state to get to work in as a nurse. So how do you become a [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”]nurse in Oregon[/hen-ui-link]?[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”text-secondary”]ENTRY LEVEL PRACTICE NURSES[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/how-to-become-a-rn//”]Becoming a nurse[/hen-ui-link] in Oregon is a 3-stage process:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]DECIDE WHETHER TO TAKE THE LPN (LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE) OR RN (REGISTERED NURSE) OPTION[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It takes just one year to complete an [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/lpn-lvn/best-lpn-nursing-programs/”]LPN program[/hen-ui-link], but job prospects and salaries are much lower. Hence, the common choice is to become an RN by either completing a 2 year associate degree (ADN) program, or a four year bachelor degree (BSN).[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]MEET THE PREREQUISITES TO BE ACCEPTED TO THE SCHOOL OF YOUR CHOICE[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For RN programs in particular, you will generally be expected to complete a number of [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/oregon/”]undergraduate courses[/hen-ui-link] in areas such as statistics and liberal arts.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]PASS THE RELEVANT NCLEX EXAM[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nclex/guide/”]NCLEX[/hen-ui-link] examination for LPNs is the NCLEX-PN, while the exam for RNs is the NCLEX-RN.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″ class=”text-secondary”]ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]To become an [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/advanced-practice-nursing/”]Advanced Practice Nurse[/hen-ui-link] (APN) in Oregon, you must be authorized by the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oregon.gov/OSBN/pages/index.aspx”]Oregon State Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link] by meeting a number of requirements. This is a 4-stage process.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]EARN A GRADUATE DEGREE AT MASTERS LEVEL (MSN) AS A MINIMUM[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For Nurse Practitioners (NPs), the program must be accredited either by the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.acenursing.org/”]Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing[/hen-ui-link] (ACEN) or the [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation”]Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education[/hen-ui-link] (CCNE). Additionally, the program must emphasize a certain population focus, with a choice of :

Adult[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Acute Care[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/fnp/”]Family Practice[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Geriatric[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Neonatal[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-midwife/salary/”]Nurse Midwife[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pediatrics[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Psychiatric/Mental Health[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Women Health[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Graduation took place no more than two years ago; or[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Having taken part in 850 practice hours that included teaching, direct care, supervision, consulting and research in relating to the [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-anesthetist/how-to-become-a-crna/”]CRNA scope[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]45 contact hours in the past two years in pharmacology.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]30 hour pharmacology course and 15 CE (continuous education) hours in pharmacological management.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]CNS or NP program that included 45 hours in pharmacology and a full clinical practicum in managing pharmacological needs.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]BECOME NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AS AN NP, CNS OR CRNA[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The following national certification agencies are recognized by the Board:

The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aacn.org/DM/MainPages/AACNHomePage.aspx?pageid=1″]AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aanpcert.org/ptistore/control/index”]AANP (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://midwife.org/”]American College of Nurse-Midwives[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Nurse Midwife Nurse Practitioner.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nursecredentialing.org/”]ANCC[/hen-ui-link] (American Nurses Credentialing Center), which recognizes the Adult Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) and the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nccwebsite.org/”]NCC (National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Women Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) and the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/index”]PNCB (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care and Primary Care.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nbcrna.com/Pages/default.aspx”]National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA)[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.aacn.org/DM/MainPages/AACNHomePage.aspx?pageid=1″]AACN (American Association of Critical-Care Nurses[/hen-ui-link], which recognizes the pediatric critical care CNS, the adult critical care CNS and the neonatal critical care CNS.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]APPLY FOR THE APRN CERTIFICATE AS PER YOUR SPECIALIZATION[/hen-ui-heading]

As an NP, you must complete the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oregon.gov/osbn/pages/index.aspx”]Nurse Practitioner Application[/hen-ui-link], including the prescriptive authority form if you wish to apply for this. You must include relevant documentation and fees.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As a CNS, you must fully complete the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oregon.gov/osbn/pages/index.aspx”]CNS application[/hen-ui-link] with relevant documentation and fees. Make sure you also include the prescriptive authority form if you wish to apply for it.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As a CRNA, you must complete the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oregon.gov/osbn/pages/index.aspx”]CRNA application[/hen-ui-link] packet and include relevant documentation and fees.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]RENEW YOUR LICENSE[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In terms of continuous education (CE), the Board expects you to meet the requirements as set by your national certification boar. Additionally, an NP or CNS with prescriptive privileges must complete at least 100 contact hours, 15 of which are with pharmacological content. If you are a CNS without prescriptive privileges, you must complete 40 CE hours. 50% of all these hours must be structured, meaning that they are at advanced level and relate to your specialty.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oregon.gov/OSBN/pages/index.aspx”]Oregon State Board of Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]17938 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Portland, Oregon 97224-7012[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Phone: 971-673-0685[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Fax: 971-673-0684[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card]

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”py-4 my-0 text-center border-b md:pb-8 md:border-none”]You might be interested in[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-layout ids=”76218,76212,76202″][/hen-ui-article-layout]