Danielle Hubbard, of Roseburg, Oregon, was serving in the Army National Guard during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. As a mandatory part of her service, Hubbard was assigned to do hospital relief work at Mercy Medical Center, where she assisted nurses and other health care staff in managing the influx of sick patients.
Though the stress and challenges of working alongside clinicians during a global pandemic drove many away from the profession, Hubbard said the experience ignited her passion for helping others and inspired her to pursue a career in nursing.
“That was my first introduction to nursing, and I knew immediately this is where I needed to be. I knew it would be a challenging career, but I wanted to be a nurse,” Hubbard said. “Our local community college had a nursing program that was bridged with OHSU, and that was really appealing because I knew I could finish my associate degree and then jump right into the bachelor’s program.”
After finishing her associate’s degree in nursing at Umpqua Community College, Hubbard exercised the option as a graduate of an Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education partner school to transition to Oregon Health & Science University’s Online RN to B.S. Nursing Degree Program, and began her coursework in the fall 2022. Hubbard said that the ability to complete the program entirely online, which allowed her to stay close to home, was a major incentive.
Access to health care in non-urban areas is a significant issue in Oregon and around the country, and a growing shortage of nurses and other clinicians makes it harder for patients to receive the care they need. To help address the health care workforce shortages, OHSU has been working to establish programs in rural areas, inspire the next generation of clinicians, and, with programs like the Online RN to B.S. Nursing Degree program, strengthen Oregon’s health care workforce by offering education opportunities for all Oregonians, not just those who reside near the OHSU campus.
“It was important to me to be able to stay in my community, because we have a huge population of patients facing barriers to health care, including histories of trauma or complicated medical issues,” Hubbard said. “A lot of these patients go unnoticed because providers trained in holistic care that’s mindful of all these factors can be hard to come by.
“OHSU has a strong curriculum that taught us how to bring that holistic perspective to the care we provide, so students completing this program are helping build those bridges in the community.”
Strengthening Oregon’s workforce
Since its inception in 2009, OHSU’s Online RN to B.S. Nursing Degree Program has launched more than1,400 graduates’ careers in nursing. The program is delivered 100% online — with the ability for all classes and clinical activities to be completed from anywhere — and offers year-round admissions and flexible pathways so students can earn their degree in as little to nine months or up to five years.
“Nurses serve as primary health care providers for many people in the United States, especially in rural areas where there aren’t enough health professionals to meet demand, and that’s certainly true in many communities here in Oregon,” said Susan Bakewell-Sachs, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, vice president for nursing affairs and dean of the OHSU School of Nursing. “Baccalaureate preparation enhances a nurse’s ability to offer population health, provide care coordination, and lead care teams. Through the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education, students can complete their associate degree at the partner community college and seamlessly finish their baccalaureate degree.”
Upon graduation, students pursue diverse and rewarding career pathways. Some move into leadership roles at their current place of employment as a charge nurse, nurse manager or nurse educator. Many transition to community nursing, where they serve in public health agencies, schools, correctional facilities or home health organizations. Others take on roles in specialized units like intensive care, surgery or labor and delivery.
RN to B.S. students starting in the summer 2025, fall 2025, winter 2026 or spring 2026 are guaranteed to receive OHSU’s Provost Workforce Development Scholarship, which allots $2,000 toward tuition and fees, disbursed during the 2025-26 academic year. Request an appointment with an academic advisor to learn more about the admissions process.
Additionally, many choose to continue their education and pursue nursing graduate programs such as a Master’s in Nursing Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice, or Ph.D. in Nursing Science — all offered at OHSU — which may lead to careers as nurse practitioners, researchers, policymakers or health care executives.
Importantly, Bakewell-Sachs says, no matter their career goals, circumstances or location, students can expect to receive guidance and encouragement every step of the way from dedicated program faculty and academic support staff.
Hubbard, an active member of the Army National Guard, works closely with program faculty to ensure she can fulfill her military service while also earning her degree. With the flexibility afforded by OHSU’s program, Hubbard has been able to continue her coursework online while currently deployed on a nine-month humanitarian mission in Egypt, where she also works as nurse in a military medical facility.
“The faculty have been so amazing through every stage of my education. They have consistently checked in on me and even sent care packages during my deployment,” she said. “Developing those bonds and connections through my program has been really special.”
Hubbard is on track to graduate from OHSU’s program this June, with plans to continue her education through the military. After pursuing a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, she hopes to continue practicing critical care medicine as a commissioned officer in the United States Army Medical Corps.
“OHSU is a great program for students who want to take their career to the next level and be able to be competitive in their field,” Hubbard said. “I am a more qualified applicant now, with a much stronger path forward.”