Imagine waking up each day knowing you live in one of the most beautiful areas in the country, just an hour away from mountains in one direction and the ocean in the other. Imagine knowing that you and the work that you do is valued by your employer and that your time away from the job is filled with endless choices of outdoor activities, art, amazing food, and a supportive community. If this sounds like the perfect setting for you and your career, then there’s no need to imagine. Eugene, Oregon offers registered nurses all of that and more.
Eugene, Oregon and Healthcare
With just over 170,000 residents, Eugene is far from a big city. It is the perfect combination of urban and suburban, a metropolitan area with all of the offerings of a metropolis but the feeling of a small-town community. The healthcare facilities in Eugene serve the population well: the hospitals in downtown Eugene and in neighboring Springfield include one that was ranked among Oregon’s best by U.S. News & World Report, and there are countless clinics, private practice offices, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities, and specialty medical offices where registered nurses can find positions to suit their professional goals. Eugene is also home to many research institutions that employ healthcare professionals.
Types of Nursing Jobs in Eugene
There are few areas in the United States that are not facing nursing shortages. The need for more professionals has been building for years, and though it was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent major study of the problem concluded that the bigger issue is the lack of nurses graduating from Oregon’s nursing problem, which is itself traced back to the lack of nursing programs and faculty in the state. To address the problem, the Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative (OLDC) has offered several recommendations, including establishing a centralized, statewide clinical placement system and addressing the pay gap between clinical nurse salaries and nurse educator salaries. For its part, the Oregon Nurses Association has proposed a law that would establish minimum nurse staffing levels for hospitals, limiting a registered nurse in an intensive care unit to one or two patients only, depending on their condition.
But these are long-term solutions to an immediate problem. With only 17 registered nursing associate degree programs offered in Oregon and only two graduate nursing programs, Eugene’s healthcare employers from hospitals to private practices are eager to speak to nursing professionals who are interested in relocating to the city. Below you’ll find our list of some of the top places for registered nurses to work in Eugene.
Peace Health
PeaceHealth is a Washington-state-based not-for-profit health system with facilities throughout the state of Oregon, as well as in Alaska and Washington. The organization has won numerous recognitions, including being one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America and the No.2 Healthiest Employer in Oregon. The PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend is the largest hospital between Portland and San Francisco and was named one of the top hospitals in Oregon by U.S. News & World Report. Located a few miles from downtown Eugene in Springfield, the site was built in 2008, joining the nearly 100-year-old PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center University District, which converted to a specialty services hospital when general services moved to the newer facility.
Registered nurses working at PeaceHealth in Oregon enjoy working for an employer that is committed to inclusivity, that respects diversity, and that is fully committed to supporting them physically, emotionally, financially, socially, and spiritually. Compensation is both competitive and comprehensive, and for full time employees includes full medical, dental, and vision coverage, 403b retirement plans with an employer base and matching contributions, paid time off, employer-paid life and disability insurance with additional buyup coverage options, tuition and continuing education reimbursement, wellness benefits, and access to an expanded EAP and mental health program. Hiring bonuses and relocation assistance are often available.
Oregon Medical Group
Oregon Medical Group is a growing, multi-specialty practice encompassing over 100 providers at multiple clinics located within the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area. The organization is part of Optum and the UnitedHealth Group. It offers more than 20 specialty services and its physicians provide primary care to nearly one in three people in the Lane County area.
Registered nurses and other healthcare professionals working for the Oregon Medical Group rank it as one of the best places to work in Oregon. The practice values work-life balance and supports its employees with competitive, market-based compensation, benefits, and recognition programs including health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, wellness programs and incentives, short- and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, and paid time off. Many registered nurse positions offer sign-on bonuses.
Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center
The Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center is an independent, physician-led practice delivering leading-edge technology and treatment options and conducting innovative cancer research. It is Oregon’s largest cancer care and research center and a part of the U.S. Oncology network.
Registered nurses working for the organization of knowing they are making a significant difference for patients as they progress through the cancer care continuum, and are rewarded with competitive benefits, including a healthcare program that offers plan options to support each individual’s overall well-being; the Healthy Choices Wellness Program to encourage healthier lifestyles for nurses and their families; a Perks Program that provides access to discounted rates on auto, home, legal, and pet insurance through national providers; and a 401(k) retirement plan savings program. The organization also offers nurses sign-on bonuses for joining their team.
Living in Eugene provides access to incredible outdoor activities, natural beauty, a fabulous craft beer and cultural scene, and one of the country’s most renowned wine regions. Add in the limitless professional opportunities available at Eugene’s top-level healthcare facilities and registered nurses could not ask for a better place to be. For more information on living and working in Eugene, Oregon, start by visiting Incredible Health’s nursing job search page.
