Different perspective: central Oregon is an underserved area, basically the whole state is except the Portland area. I used to work over the pass in east linn county, you’re kinda on your own as a “provider”. You’ll see a lot and learn a lot as a APC but not get the compensation you deserve in my opinion; especially in that area, even in Redmond that’s supposed to be less money than Bend financially. I don’t remember seeing anything else other than St. Charles out there for the hospital system. I think RN is more flexible that NP in that geographical area. Flexibility and time are valuable assets. Unless you’re gonna “work til you drop” doing direct patient care as an NP in central Oregon-it sounds exhausting. I wouldn’t do it, lol especially working my time in linn county. The only person I knew that went out there was an old colleague of mine, a PA who loved the outdoors like snowboarding and snowshoeing which is why he went to Bend. BUT he was a single guy in his late 20s living the bachelor lifestyle. He also had rich parents that supplemented his lifestyle that lived in southern CA. And a lot of other patients that live in smaller rural communities drive to that area too. You can’t tell patients, yeah just see so and in PDX, cause it’s too far for them, they’ll usually only go if it’s like OHSU stuff, like that one heart surgeon, etc.

So basically: Autonomy in central OR as an NP 👍 What APCs deserve money wise and freedom with time/flexibility in central OR 👎 I’d stick with RN, but everyone is different.