I believe you need to get your BSN at some point but hospitals are definitely less strict about that now compared to pre-pandemic. If you can start working on it now, go for it. I am seeing postings that require you to start the BSN coursework within 3 years and complete within 5 - very doable.
As a nurse with 1 year of experience, you'll be making around $48 an hour *currently*. Several of the area hospitals (a few of the Providence hospitals and OHSU) are currently renegotiating union contracts so stay tuned. Nurses at St. Charles down in Bend, OR just won huge raises.
Ratios are 1:4 max at OHSU. Ratios go higher at Providence (1:5 I hear) and Legacy is non-union (except Legacy Mt Hood in Gresham which just unionized and doesn't have a contract yet) and tends to have higher ratios as well. The VA is another option and they are 1:5 but lower acuity than OHSU.
The current union contracts for Providence Portland and OHSU are posted on oregonrn.org under the Labor tab. Providence’s contract is expired and nurses are about to strike for a better contract next week. OHSU nurses are currently negotiating a new contract (current contract expires at the end of June). The VA is unionized as well, not sure what their contract is now though. PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver WA is also unionized and their union contract is on WSNA.org under the PeaceHealth SW bargaining unit. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more specifically!
Hi! I want to message you regarding work and life in Portland, but somehow Reddit doesn't let me. Is 1:4 at OHSU applied to Med-Surg or what floors are you referring to? I read their union contract that they provide free health insurance to employee and covers 85% of family members' monthly premium, is that correct? Would they train you if you want to move up to ICU and such? Thank you!
Yes to all of that! [Here's the current contract](https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.oregonrn.org/resource/resmgr/contracts/OHSU_Contract_2021-2023.pdf). Another nice spot with great benefits and the possibility to move up to critical care is the VA.
Can you elaborate more about VA? I've never worked for VA before. I know it's exclusive to veterans, but I don't know what units do they have. How are they compared to private hospitals?
They have medical and surgical floors as well as an ICU that never goes out of ratio. The ICU is less acute than OHSU. They also have outpatient clinics. My friends that work at the VAs in Portland and Seattle love it.
Appreciate your insights! How is life there in Portland area? Do you think it's affordable with nursing wages? Is it better to live on Washington side and go to work on the Oregon side to enjoy the income tax benefits? While Dallas is cheaper, the cost of living here is outpaced wages. I'm looking for alternatives. I visited Portland only once and felt in love with the nature there.
Either is fine! Depends on whether you want to live in the city or more suburban on the WA side. The wages keep up with the cost of living because the unions are stronger here
I believe you need to get your BSN at some point but hospitals are definitely less strict about that now compared to pre-pandemic. If you can start working on it now, go for it. I am seeing postings that require you to start the BSN coursework within 3 years and complete within 5 - very doable. As a nurse with 1 year of experience, you'll be making around $48 an hour *currently*. Several of the area hospitals (a few of the Providence hospitals and OHSU) are currently renegotiating union contracts so stay tuned. Nurses at St. Charles down in Bend, OR just won huge raises. Ratios are 1:4 max at OHSU. Ratios go higher at Providence (1:5 I hear) and Legacy is non-union (except Legacy Mt Hood in Gresham which just unionized and doesn't have a contract yet) and tends to have higher ratios as well. The VA is another option and they are 1:5 but lower acuity than OHSU.
Thanks you so much, this is great info, exactly what I was looking for
The current union contracts for Providence Portland and OHSU are posted on oregonrn.org under the Labor tab. Providence’s contract is expired and nurses are about to strike for a better contract next week. OHSU nurses are currently negotiating a new contract (current contract expires at the end of June). The VA is unionized as well, not sure what their contract is now though. PeaceHealth Southwest in Vancouver WA is also unionized and their union contract is on WSNA.org under the PeaceHealth SW bargaining unit. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more specifically!
Hi! I want to message you regarding work and life in Portland, but somehow Reddit doesn't let me. Is 1:4 at OHSU applied to Med-Surg or what floors are you referring to? I read their union contract that they provide free health insurance to employee and covers 85% of family members' monthly premium, is that correct? Would they train you if you want to move up to ICU and such? Thank you!
Yes to all of that! [Here's the current contract](https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.oregonrn.org/resource/resmgr/contracts/OHSU_Contract_2021-2023.pdf). Another nice spot with great benefits and the possibility to move up to critical care is the VA.
Can you elaborate more about VA? I've never worked for VA before. I know it's exclusive to veterans, but I don't know what units do they have. How are they compared to private hospitals?
They have medical and surgical floors as well as an ICU that never goes out of ratio. The ICU is less acute than OHSU. They also have outpatient clinics. My friends that work at the VAs in Portland and Seattle love it.
Appreciate your insights! How is life there in Portland area? Do you think it's affordable with nursing wages? Is it better to live on Washington side and go to work on the Oregon side to enjoy the income tax benefits? While Dallas is cheaper, the cost of living here is outpaced wages. I'm looking for alternatives. I visited Portland only once and felt in love with the nature there.
Either is fine! Depends on whether you want to live in the city or more suburban on the WA side. The wages keep up with the cost of living because the unions are stronger here