Industrial TechnologyEmergency ServicesMcMinnvilleHealth SciencesClassroom Building
Health Sciences facility, Salem Campus
If approved, $22 million, nearly 24 percent of bond funds, will be used to construct a dedicated health sciences building. The demand for capable nurses is on the rise as Oregon's population continues to age. A new health sciences building would increase Chemeketa's training space and include areas for emergency room replicas that simulate real-world environments. The 60,000 square-foot building would be used to continue meeting current and future workforce needs for these high-demand, high-wage jobs.
Workforce Trends-Health Sciences
- Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.
- Enrollments in nursing programs at all levels have increased more rapidly in the past few years as students seek jobs with stable employment.
- To attract and retain qualified nurses, hospitals may offer signing bonuses, family-friendly work schedules, or subsidized training.
- A large number of workers are attracted by the industry's relatively high wages and the flexibility of the work in this industry.
- Relative to physicians, RNs increasingly serve as lower-cost primary care providers.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics