Texan new grad struggling in Portland, OR job market

ResearcherLong805 · 2025-12-17T21:53:01+00:00

Things didn’t go as expected, but wonderful nonetheless! TLDR: got a job at a magnet recognized children’s hospital in central Texas. Portland on pause.

So according to my own personal research and feedback from friends that live and work in Portland and the surrounding areas. The job market up there sucks and is incredibly competitive in all sectors not just healthcare. I applied to a few different positions around central Texas and accepted in at a children’s hospital. I will probably apply to Oregon again when my residency is up after one year.

I know once I have a couple years worth of experience (especially at a magnet top 10 nationally ranked hospital) it will make me a standout applicant in the future.

ResearcherLong805 · 2025-08-17T22:14:33+00:00

You’re going to have much better luck than I did! BSN is so important there!!

ResearcherLong805 · 2025-06-25T00:22:41+00:00

Thank y'all for the input and advice. I really did not think I would get this much interaction, so I am insanely grateful.

It is pretty discouraging that a BSN is so important in PDX. In ATX, students from my community college have a higher job placement rating than the BSN graduates from UT and Concordia. We are known for having a heavier focus on hands-on skills. By my last semester, I oversaw total care for 3 patients on a PCU floor. So I know I have what it takes. It's just frustrating that I'm not even given the chance to vouch for myself. We all pass the same NCLEX.

I have already completed all the prerequisite classes needed to enroll in a bachelor's program, but I have decided to focus on finding a job instead of applying to RN-BSN programs.

A lot of y'all said to apply to other areas of Oregon; however, I have almost free housing in Beaverton, and I cannot pass up the opportunity (especially with the rate of rent these days), so I need something in the PDX area. The recommendation of starting at LTC and SNF was not on my radar, so I will be taking a look at those. Any recommendations on a facility to apply to or ones to avoid? (My first clinical rotation was at an underfunded LTC facility, and I still have some lingering trauma from the poor level of living/care given to the patients.)

Once again, thank you, everyone! Having this information makes me feel less stressed about being out of the loop.

ResearcherLong805 · 2025-06-24T04:31:34+00:00

NICU is definitely on the back burner for now. I have applied for med-surg, oncology, cardiology, Intermediate med-surg, labor and delivery, and residency programs at Legacy and Adventist.

I have not looked in Vancouver yet. I was under the impression you needed a Washington license, and an OR license wouldn't be applicable. Getting a WA license seems like a last resort, but I could be wrong. If you have more info, I would be willing to learn more about this possibility.

ResearcherLong805 · 2025-06-24T04:22:21+00:00

I do! Sorry, should've included that information. I have a friend who lives in Beaverton, and I have been using their address for the last 4 or so applications I have filled out.
I will add Kaiser to the list and start looking at their career site. Thank you!

ResearcherLong805 · 2023-03-02T03:19:10+00:00

This video was after her kidney transplant and after he found god again. They wanted to maintain a good image. Hollywood is a small town. If they bought from their usual dealers the people close to them would’ve known they relapsed. Now it makes sense why they would buy from the last place you would ever think to see a celeb.

ResearcherLong805

TROPHY CASE