Oregon Nurse Practitioner Degrees
While working as a nurse, you may have discovered your passion for patient care. If you become a nurse practitioner, you can have a bigger role in patient care and care management. Find out more about nurse practitioner programs in Oregon on this page, where you can check out class requirements, clinical requirements and career options. You can look at the different specialties offered by each school. Compare schools near you by searching for programs above or exploring featured programs below.
The decision to start a career in nursing can open the door to many other career options down the line. For example, the time you have spent working as a registered nurse may have helped you develop a passion for patient care.
How Can I Become a Nurse Practitioner in Oregon?
If patient care is your favorite aspect of the nursing field, you may consider earning a nurse practitioner degree and broadening your scope of practice in Oregon. To get started in this field, you may earn a doctoral degree or a master’s degree.
Average Master’s Degree Requirements in Oregon for NPs
- Credit hours required: 50 credits
- Average cost: $1,100 per credit hour
- Clinical hours required: 500 to 1,000 hours
- Timeframe: Three years
Average Doctoral Requirements in Oregon for NPs
- Credit hours required: 80 to 90 credits
- Clinical hours required: Over 1,000 hours
- Timeframe: Six years
What Types of Nurse Practitioner Programs Are Available in Oregon?
Whether you decide to earn a Master’s degree or a doctoral degree, you must choose an area of specialized study before you begin your coursework. Each school has different options, but common programs in Oregon include family healthcare and psychiatric healthcare.
Core advanced nursing courses are typically the same for any specialty, but from there, your choice determines which classes you take and where you get clinical experience.
Common Course Options in Oregon for Nurse Practitioners
- Management of Adults with Acute Conditions
- Clinical Prevention and Population Health
- Integrative Health
- Health Organization Systems
- Policy and Politics in Healthcare
- Management of Common Health Conditions
- Pediatric Health Promotion and Health Problems
You may get assigned to multiple clinical settings throughout your education. For example, those who go into geriatric care may work in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. Those who study psychiatric care may work in mental health clinics and counseling centers. You work under the supervision of physicians and licensed instructors while developing your skill set.
One way to get familiar with your program is to explore its learning goals and outcomes. These program goals show you which competencies and skills you should master by the time you graduate. Many schools focus on patient communication, knowledge of advanced nursing techniques, and understanding of Oregon nurse practice law.
How Can I Pay for Nurse Practitioner School in Oregon?
- BestNursingDegree.com: Four times per year, BestNursingDegree.com awards $2,500 scholarships to selected students in order to help with the costs associated with nurse practitioner training.
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: If you take out student loans for your undergraduate or graduate nursing degree, you may get up to $50,000 of loans paid off by spending two years at an NHSC-approved site.
- NURSE Corps Scholarship Program: In exchange for a scholarship, students commit to a two-year stint in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
- Nurse Practitioners of Oregon: Through Nurse Practitioners of Oregon, student members can apply for the NPO Scholarship.
Licensing and Practice Requirements for APRNs in Oregon
After finishing your nurse practitioner education, you may move on to the licensing process. In Oregon, nurse licensure goes through the Oregon State Board of Nursing. They require an RN license, a graduate degree from an accredited institution, and national certification in your area of specialized study.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners notes that Oregon allows NPs to have full freedom of practice (2016).
Nurse Practitioner Careers in Oregon
Earning a nurse practitioner degree can significantly boost your income potential, particularly if you work in a specialty where care providers are in short supply. The average salary for an Oregon nurse practitioner is $111,210 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). As the healthcare industry grows, the need for advanced practitioners may swell. By 2024, O*Net anticipates a 35% increase in job openings for nurse practitioners (2016).
Use your clinical sites to get employment ideas. You may look for open positions in nursing homes, clinics, hospitals, urgent care centers, and schools, to name a few options.
This is the time to learn more about nurse practitioner degrees.
Choosing a Nurse Practitioner School in Oregon
As you research the options for earning your NP degree, it is worthwhile to note that many campuses now offer distance learning, putting a degree at your fingertips, and allowing you to continue meeting the needs of your current work and family responsibilities, while furthering your education. Please request information from all of the schools in our list that offer programs you are interested in, so that you can make a well informed decision about which program is right for you. 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.
