Best LPN Programs in Portland 2026

The healthcare employment landscape in Portland, Oregon, offers a variety of opportunities for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The Oregon State Board of Nursing‘s 2022 Annual Report indicates no identified statewide shortages or significant surpluses of LPNs in Oregon. Nationally, the outlook for LPN and LVN employment is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2022, approximately 42.6% of Oregon’s LPNs worked within the Portland Metro region (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties), indicating a significant presence of these essential healthcare professionals.

LPNs in Portland are employed across diverse healthcare environments, providing crucial support and direct patient care. Key employers and facility types include:

• Nursing Homes and Extended Care Facilities:These facilities remain significant employers for LPNs. Nationally, about 25% of LPNs/LVNs work in skilled nursing care facilities, and in Oregon, skilled nursing facilities remained the top work setting for LPNs in 2022, employing 31.1%. LPNs provide approximately 70% of licensed care in these settings.
• Hospitals:Major hospitals in Portland frequently hire LPNs for various roles, including acute and progressive care units. Prominent employers include Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and facilities under Legacy Health, such as Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.
• Home Health Agencies:This sector accounts for a substantial portion of LPN employment. Agencies like Maxim Healthcare, Eden Home Health, Avail Home Health, and Interim HealthCare offer positions throughout the Portland Metro area, providing care directly in patients’ homes.
• Senior Living and Assisted Living Facilities:Numerous opportunities exist within assisted living and senior living communities. Employers such as Avamere Communities and Erickson Senior Living seek LPNs to provide personalized routine and wellness care, as well as specialized nursing services.
• Private Practices and Clinics:In 2022, physician office and ambulatory care center/clinic settings combined represented approximately 16.7% of LPN work settings in Oregon. Kaiser Permanente, for example, lists LPN positions in its various clinics across Portland, including specialized practices like endocrinology.
• Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities focusing on rehabilitation, including those managed by Marquis Companies and Consonus Rehab, also hire LPNs to support patient recovery and therapy plans.
• Other Facilities:LPNs may also find employment in specialized settings like BioLife Plasma Services, psychiatric centers, schools, and adult foster homes.

Beyond these large systems, smaller facilities and networks also play an important role in LPN employment in Portland. Many LPNs secure positions through staffing agencies such as Express Healthcare Staffing, TRS Healthcare, NexNURSE, Nursa, RCM Healthcare, and AMN Healthcare, which connect professionals with temporary, per-diem, and contract roles across a variety of healthcare settings.