Oregon Public Broadcasting

There won’t be enough nurses to look after Oregon’s sick and elderly in about ten years -- according to a report published Monday. Kristian Foden-Vencil has more.

The Oregon Center for Nursing says that while six eager students apply for every nursing school position, five get turned away.

The reason – not enough nurses to teach those students.

Scott Palmer of the Oregon Nurses Association says, nurses make good money – about $70,000 a year. Teaching means a $10,000 to $15,000 pay cut.

Scott Palmer: “The current faculty shortage threatens to extend and deepen Oregon’s already very serious nursing crisis.”

Palmer and others in the health care industry are championing a bill that would pay the loans of student teachers. It would cost the state up to $800,000 a year.

Senate Bill 701 is scheduled for a hearing Thursday morning.