In 2001, the OHSU School of Nursing joined with several Oregon community colleges in an exciting new partnership, the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education (OCNE). Established in response to the critical nursing shortage, OCNE enables Oregon nursing programs to dramatically expand the availability of students to receive the B.S. nursing degree and increase enrollment, while preparing graduates with competencies to address the rapidly changing health care needs of Oregon’s aging and ethnically diverse populations. The consortium is characterized by:

• A shared, competency-based curriculum culminating in a bachelor’s degree.
• Improved utilization of clinical facilities and faculty expertise in Oregon.
• Development and use of state-of-the art clinical simulation labs to augment on-site clinical training.
• Shared agreements for student support services that facilitate students; financial aid, co-admission, and dual enrollment– as needed for completion of the B.S. degree.
• Shared agreements for academic standards including admissions criteria, progression and graduation standards between all partner schools.

In fall 2006, OHSU and 4 Oregon community colleges (Mt. Hood, Umpqua, Rogue and Southwestern Oregon) began implementing the OCNE program as the primary curriculum at each School of Nursing. In 2007, Lane Community College and Clackamas Community College joined OCNE. OHSU added the Monmouth campus in 2008. Portland Community College and Blue Mountain Community College joined OCNE in 2010. Treasure Valley Community College joined OCNE in 2014. Clatsop Community College joined in 2016, and Columbia Gorge Community College - OCNE's newest partner - will begin delivering the OCNE curriculum in 2018.

Graduates from OCNE community colleges are eligible to non-competitively transition to the OHSU RNBS Program