Hello everybody, I recently decided to pursue nursing, but I have no idea how to get started.

For context, I am 19 and currently in community college taking unrelated classes that I signed up for before I decided I wanted to go into nursing. I don't think I have taken any of the prerequisites yet for nursing (at least none of the science classes). I was thinking of becoming a CNA before applying to a nursing program to give me some healthcare experience and an upper hand in nursing program admissions. But I am not sure whether to take my prerequisite classes or become a CNA first. Or maybe skip the CNA part altogether and just do my prerequisites and apply to nursing programs?

I'm so sorry if I am not very knowledgeable in this department. I have looked into the whole process a little, but it has been very overwhelming (I plan to talk to advisors soon). I have been very stressed over my future (because of multiple factors) and really need to start thinking seriously about it!

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!!!!

I saw this article from the Wall Street Journal.

I’m trying to get a feel of this by doing my own analysis so please leave your comment with your opinion.

Thank you 🙏🏼

I’m just interested in how nurses have felt OHSU compares to other Oregon/PNW hospital systems they’ve worked for - Providence, PeaceHealth, Legacy, etc!!

I graduated with my ADN at a Portland area community college in March and passed the NCLEX in May. I started up with the OHSU RN to BSN courses spring quarter as well because I didn't have a residency lined up and didn't want to lose momentum. I had a temporary nursing job over the summer (not travel nursing) but beyond that I've been applying like crazy for local new grad residencies that just aren't coming through, like many of us. In the meantime I've been taking the BSN courses every term.

After this current term I will have 3 classes (15 credits) left of my BSN. I'm wondering if getting those done ASAP will improve my chances of getting a new grad (non SNF) job.

I know leaving Portland may need to happen but I'm trying to avoid that if I can. My husband and I own a condo here and I have older family that I want to be available for if/when they need me. If things are still really bad in the Portland area after my BSN is done I will try to be more flexible with my application range.

I will also speak with my academic counselor at OHSU. I just wish someone could tell me if getting the BSN out of the way is going to make a difference or not. I skipped being a CNA and worked in an unrelated field previously, so I lack connections to the local hospitals.

Does anyone have the textbook

Davis Advantage Basic Nursing: Thinking, Doing, and Caring 4th edition?

Willing to pay.

any other nursing resources you no longer need please lmk as well

I’m a Portland local. Born and raised. And all y’all transplant RNs got me pissed off making the job market tough for us REAL Portlanders. Talking bout “me and my boyfriend are moving here from the south and are looking at what hospital to apply at” Annoying as hell.

Fuckkkk night shift. I need a life. But I’m scared that’s the only job I’ll be able to get. I’d do SNF I’d do ANYTHING over night shift so when all these new grads are on here saying “I can’t find a job I’ve been applying for 3 months” are they talking about night shift too?

Is this required if changing specialty? Im an ED nurse looking to relocate to Portland and change to ICU.

A friend told me this was required but the ICU/ED/OR postings all just say 1 year nursing exp required but don’t mention in that specialty.

I understand the fellowship is a completely different job posting that doesn’t come up as often.

Hello Everyone,
I am hoping to connect with anyone who is or has applied to OHSU’s ABS to Nurse-Midwifery program. Would love to chat with other applicants or anyone who has experience with this program! Feel free to comment below or PM me. Thanks :)

Is anyone here a December 2026 nursing graduate who applied to CHOA’s nurse residency starting February/March 2027? I completed my video assessment in August and still haven’t heard anything. My application just says “In Consideration.” Has anyone from this cohort received a recruiter call, interview, offer, or rejection yet?

Hi all! I'm applying to ADN programs for the Fall 2027 cohort and would love some perspective from people who know Oregon nursing.

TL;DR:

Strong GPA, zero patient care experience. Trying to decide if getting my CNA is worth it, and if so, whether to work full-time as a CNA (pay cut) or keep my current job and potentially pick up per diem shifts on weekends, if I proceed with a CNA program.

My background:

- BS in Computer Science. I currently work full-time in a non-clinical healthcare IT role.

- Cumulative GPA: 3.799 (all previous undergrad plus my first term of nursing prereqs, all A's so far). Should be around 3.8+ after this fall term.

- Prereqs on track to be done by March 2027.

- I don't live in the Willamette Valley, so I'm mostly focusing on ADN programs in central and southern Oregon. Going ADN because ABSN programs look significantly more expensive.

- I'm originally from the South, where my understanding is nursing admissions are much less competitive than on the West Coast. Honestly, I have no realistic sense of how competitive Oregon programs are beyond what I've read online.

Why I'm considering CNA:

I have no direct patient care experience, and I think it's the weakest part of my application. That said, I'm not sure how much CNA experience would actually change my odds.

My questions:

1. How much does CNA experience actually help with Oregon ADN admissions for someone with a strong GPA but no patient care? Is it a nice bonus, or closer to expected?

2. Would full-time CNA work look meaningfully better than one per diem shift a week, or is it mostly about having the certification and some hours?

3. Is it realistic for a brand-new CNA to get hired per diem with weekend-only availability? Should I aim for a hospital or long-term care?

4. Most of my deadlines are in February 2027. If I got certified in the next couple of months, I'd only have a few months of hours. Worth it for this cycle, or mainly a safety net in case I have to reapply?

5. Has anyone counted a behavioral health direct-care role (like a QMHA position) as patient care experience? I'm wondering if admissions would see it like CNA work.

6. For anyone who's applied in Oregon recently: how competitive are these programs for a ~3.8 GPA applicant?

Thanks so much in advance!

Hi! I would love anyone's input or opinions on whether I should aim for Joyce University's hybrid ABSN program or OHSU ABSN. I'm 29 and work full-time in tech now, hoping to get out asap and thinking either NP or CRNA long term. Tuition price is similar between the two.

pros and cons:

Joyce:

pros:
- earlier start date (Jan)
- already accepted
- hybrid format (asynchronous online classes) so I can keep working until clinicals (or whenever things get too busy)

cons:
- clinicals can be anywhere in Oregon, so I may have to drive quite a ways
- need to be in Salt Lake a few times throughout the program (adds logistical complications and cost)

OHSU

pros:
- better school reputation
- local program to where I live
- in-person classes and local clinical placements

cons:
- later start date (summer)
- not yet accepted and more competitive admissions so may not be accepted at all

Any thoughts are helpful! Thanks!

Hiiii, wanting to know how does the residency like at Tuality Hillsboro?? I know it's one year but is it all in person ?? Also please let me know, how it is working at Tuality ! Thank you

My question is basically the title. I was accepted to U Pitt’s ABSN for Fall ‘27, but as a Portland resident I’m looking at some pretty steep out of state costs. Between moving/living expenses + tuition, it’s reasonable to expect taking on $55k-$60k in loans to complete the 12 month program.

I’ve also applied to OHSU and Linfield’s Summer ‘27 cohorts which are much more financially reasonable, but I won’t hear back from them until February/March if at all. My lack of medical experience and community involvement also probably hurts my chances with OHSU specifically. If I don’t get into either campus, I’m committed to biting the bullet and going to Pitt.

I’m also open to entering loan assistance programs in exchange for service for a few years, or pursing other options to help pay off any loans, but I’m currently focused on working in the ICU after graduation. If you have any advice or perspective please share, thanks!

Hello! I am a 23 y/o first year student starting prereqs for a Healthcare profession and have been seriously looking into the nursing program offered through PCC, CCC, and MTCC. I do not have any previous credentials, and likely won't be getting any before I apply for the program, so most of my points will be based off of my GPA. Despite a few bumps that are specific to the different colleges, i.e. MTCC offers a point or two for first generation college students. I currently work as a direct support provider, and will be taking on some roles at my job (medication audits/planning for group homes), so hopefully some of that experience will be applicable to the point system but I don't think it will be from what I've read on the different advising guides. I plan on applying to all three schools when the time comes to boost my chances, as they are all locations I could get to from home okay.

Curious for people who have been accepted to a school offering this program, what points were you allotted that got you accepted past Phase 1? Is it worth spending the time to get online credentials while getting prereqs complete & getting some experience there, or saving my cash and brain power for getting the best grades I can on prereqs? I know this is all very circumstantial, but I'm curious to find some stories about others being accepted and have had trouble finding that on existing threads.

Hey all. I'm an ADN working on my RN to BSN through Chamberlain's online program. Part of the curriculum includes a community health practicum. Unfortunately, Chamberlain does not have any sites set up in the Portland area, so I'm on my own to find one. Does anyone currently work in a community health setting that takes on students or have any recommendations for possible sites?
Everywhere I've contacted so far isn't taking students at the moment. Thanks in advance!

hi! i’m relocating to portland once i secure a job (i know the job market is entirely oversaturated and that it will take a while. Im fully prepared for the grueling process) but i was wondering if anyone had insight:

what are the benefits/health insurance premiums like for the part time jobs through the main hospitals: OHSU, Providence, Legacy? (24hrs a week/0.6 FTE)

i’m seeing some part time job openings and couldnt find the exact benefits on the ONA website, other than the premium seemingly very low at Providence?

i pay $350 month right now for full time, limited benefits in the South for just me. Are they typically lower than that?

Ideally i would take a part time position and a PRN position in a different speciality if the benefits to pay ratio was good enough.

Thank you in advance!

Asking for a friend, allegedly… but does the required drug test for the ABSN at OHSU care about weed? Trying to plan my timeline of when to stop if I-ahem-my friend ends up getting in next year. Thanks!

Hi all,

I work at a residential SUD treatment facility, and I can find info on staffing ratios for long term care, psychiatric hospitals, and medical hospitals, even medical detox services, but I cannot find anything specific to residential SUD tx. I've been concerned about my work load & patient care.

Who would you recommend directing this question to? ONA? OHA (they seem to have a board for medical hospital staffing ratio questions)?

Hi everyone! My husband and I are both BSN RNs currently working in CO, and we’re considering relocating to OR. We’re looking into OHSU and are hoping to hear from nurses who currently work there or have worked there before.

My husband is an experienced dialysis nurse and is interested in applying for the acute inpatient dialysis position at OHSU. We’d love to hear what the culture is like in the dialysis department, how management treats the nurses, what the nurse-to-patient ratio is like, and how the workload is overall. Also, is the pay competitive, and do they give credit for previous nursing and dialysis experience when determining your starting rate?

As for me, I’m also exploring nursing opportunities at OHSU, but I’m still trying to figure out which departments would be good to apply to. I’d appreciate any recommendations, especially from nurses who can share their experiences with staffing, management, work-life balance, and the overall work environment.

We’re also wondering how OHSU compares with other hospital systems in OR. What do you think are its biggest advantages, especially when it comes to pay, benefits, retirement, and work culture? Would you recommend OHSU, or are there other hospitals in the Portland/Vancouver area that we should consider?

We’re hoping to make an informed decision before making the move, so any honest feedback or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

I have a family member in the hospital who will need to transition to a skilled nursing facility. I would love to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly about all of our local facilities in the Albany and Corvalis area.