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Hospital Staffing

Laws, rules and administration of hospital staffing in Oregon

On this page:

View reports from nurse staffing surveys and hospital staffing complaint investigations

Hospital Staffing Information

OHA is creating a variety of resources to provide information and answer questions about hospital staffing laws following the passage of HB 2697. OHA will use the hospital staffing listservs to announce new resources as they become available.

Administrative Rules

OHA has issued temporary administrative rules, effective January 1, 2024, to implement House Bill 2697, now codified in Oregon Revised Statues 441.760 - 441.795. Additional information on the rulemaking activity and the Rulemaking Advisory Committee can be found under Rulemaking Advisory Committees In Progress and Temporary Rules Currently in Place at www.healthoregon.org/hcrqirules.

Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 333, Division 503, Hospital Staffing, includes:

  • OAR 333-503-0002, Applicability
  • OAR 333-503-0005, Definitions
  • OAR 333-503-0010, Filing Hospital Staffing Complaints
  • OAR 333-503-0020, Processing Complaints
  • OAR 333-503-0040, Hospital Staffing Enforcement
  • OAR 333-503-0050, Hospital Staffing Plan Waiver
  • OAR 333-503-0060, Nursing Staff Member Overtime


These temporary rules are effective January 1, 2024 through June 28, 2024. OHA will effectively engage a diverse group of partners to provide input on permanent rulemaking in early 2024. 

Hospital staffing laws

Oregon's nurse staffing laws are found in Oregon Revised Statues 441.760 - 441.795. 

HCRQI and HFLC

Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement (HCRQI)

HCRQI oversees the implementation of hospital staffing laws in Oregon.

Health Facility Licensing and Certification (HFLC)

HFLC licenses hospitals in Oregon. HFLC staff support the Nurse Staffing Advisory Board (NSAB) and HFLC's Surveyor and Certification program is responsible for hospital staffing complaint investigations pursuant to Oregon statutes. HFLC staff work together to provide guidance to hospitals and hospital staff members throughout Oregon. HFLC also maintains a list of hospital staffing committee co-chairs and chief nursing officers. Hospitals should submit a change form if the hospital staffing committee co-chairs or chief nursing officer changes.

Join our Listserv

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The OHA Hospital Nurse Staffing Listserv is used to send announcements and information regarding hospital nurse staffing rules and related events put on by the Health Facility Licensing and Certification Program. OHA will be creating listservs for professional/technical staffing and services staffing shortly.

Select Join our Listserv to get started.

NSAB

The Nurse Staffing Advisory Board (NSAB) is a 12-member board of hospital nurse managers, direct care registered nurses, and a direct care staff member. The OHA has create an NSAB FAQ (pdf) for direct care nursing staff members and nurse managers to learn more about the Oregon NSAB and how to apply for membership.

NSAB Members (pdf) are charged with

  • Providing advice to the Oregon Health Authority on the administration of Oregon's nurse staffing laws;
  • Identifying trends, opportunities and concerns related to nurse staffing;
  • Making recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority on the basis of those trends, opportunities and concerns;
  • Reviewing the enforcement powers and processes under Oregon's nurse staffing laws.

The NSAB submits an annual report to the legislature on the administration of Oregon's nurse staffing laws.

NSAB Meeting Schedule

Upcoming Meetings LocationAgenda / Packet
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
In-Person and Remote

In-Person:
Portland State Office Building
800 NE Oregon Street, Room 177
Portland, OR 97232

Remote: Zoom (Register here)

Wednesday, July 31, 2024
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Zoom (Register here)
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
In-Person and Remote

In-Person:
Portland State Office Building
800 NE Oregon Street, Room 177
Portland, OR 97232

Remote: Zoom (Register here)


Date/Time Agenda / Packet
Minutes (Recordings
available on request)
​January 31, 2024
January 2024 Packet (pdf)​
​October 25, 2023
October 2023 Packet (pdf)
October 2023 Minutes (pdf)
​July 26, 2023
​July 2023 Packet (pdf)
​July 2023 Minutes (pdf)
​June 12, 2023
Rules Review Committee
June 2023 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)​
​April 26, 2023
April 2023 Packet (pdf)
April 2023 Minutes (pdf)
​April 14, 2023 Rules Review Committee
April 2023 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
​March 24, 2023 Rules Review Committee
March 2023 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
​March 8, 2023 Rules Review Committee
March 2023 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
​February 10, 2023 Rules Review Committee
February 2023 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
​January 25, 2023
January 2023 Packet (pdf)
​January 18, 2023 Rules Review Committee
January 2023 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
January 2023 Minutes (pdf)
​December 7, 2022 Rules Review Committee
December 2022 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)

​December 2, 2022
December 2022 Packet (pdf)
December 2022 Minutes (pdf)
November 29, 2022 Rules Review Committee
November 2022 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
​October 26, 2022
October 2022 Packet (pdf)
October 2022 Minutes (pdf)
​September 14, 2022 Rules Review Committee
September 2022 Rules Review Committee Packet (pdf)
August 10, 2022 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee
August 2022 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee Packet (pdf)​
​July 27, 2022
July 2022 Packet (pdf)​July 2022 Minutes (pdf)
​June 8, 2022 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee
June 2022 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee Packet (pdf)
​April 27, 2022
​April 2022 Packet (pdf)
April 2022 Minutes (pdf)
January 26, 2022​January 2022 Packet (pdf)
January 2022 Minutes (pdf)
​November 19, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty CommitteeNovember 19, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee Packet (pdf)
​November 9, 2021
November 2021 Agenda (pdf)
November 2021 Minutes (pdf)
​November 1, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty CommitteeNovember 1, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee Packet (pdf)
​October 27, 2021October 2021 Packet (pdf)October 2021 Minutes (pdf)
​October 22, 2021 Rules CommitteeOctober 2021 Rules Committee Packet (pdf)
​October 1, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty CommitteeOctober 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee Packet (pdf)
​September 30, 2021 Rules CommitteeSeptember 2021 Rules Committee Agenda (pdf)
September 10, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty CommitteeSeptember 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee Agenda (pdf)
​September 9, 2021
September 2021 Agenda (pdf)​September 2021 Minutes (pdf)​
​July 28, 2021
July 2021 Agenda (pdf)​July 2021 Minutes (pdf)
​July 26, 2021 Civil Monetary Penalty Committee
July 2021 Committee Agenda (pdf)​
​April 28,  2021
April 2021 Agenda (pdf)​

April 2021 Minutes (pdf)
​January 27, 2021
January 2021 Agenda (pdf)January 2021 Minutes (pdf)
December 9, 2020​December 2020 Agenda (pdf)December 2020 Minutes (pdf)​
October 28, 2020​October 2020 Agenda (pdf)
October 2020 Minutes (pdf)
​October 21, 2020 Process Improvement Committee
October 2020 Committee Agenda (pdf)​
​October 7, 2020
October 2020 Committee Agenda (pdf)
​August 21, 2020
Process Improvement Committee
August 2020 Committee Agenda (pdf)
​July 29, 2020
July 2020 Agenda (pdf)
July 2020 Minutes (pdf)
​July 22, 2020 - Process Improvement Committee
July 2020 Committee Agenda (pdf)
​April 29, 2020 April 2020 Agenda (pdf)April 2020 Minutes (pdf)
February 26, 2020​ February 2020 Agenda (pdf)February 2020 Minutes (pdf)
​January 8, 2020 - Overtime Committee January 2020 Committee Agenda (pdf)
​January 6, 2020 - Acuity Committee January 2020 Committee Agenda (pdf)
​November 20, 2019 ​November 2019 Agenda (pdf)November 2019 Minutes (pdf)
August 28, 2019 August 2019 Agenda (pdf)August 2019 Minutes (pdf)
July 24, 2019 July 2019 Agenda (pdf)
​July 9, 2019 - Overtime Committee July 2019 Committee Agenda (pdf)
May 22, 2019​ May 2019 Agenda (pdf)May 2019 Minutes (pdf)
​May 3, 2019 - Acuity Committee ​May 2019 Committee Agenda (pdf)

April 8, 2019 - Total Diagnosis Committee

April 2019 Committee Agenda (pdf)​

February 27, 2019​ ​February 2019 Agenda (pdf)February 2019 Minutes (pdf)
​December 27, 2018 - Acuity Committee December 2018 Committee Agenda (pdf)
November 29, 2018
​November 2018 Agenda (pdf)November 2018 Minutes (pdf)
​August 29, 2018 ​August 2018 Agenda (pdf)August 2018 Minutes (pdf)​
​August 3, 2018 ​​August 2018 Committee Agenda (pdf)
May 30, 2018​ May 2018 Agenda (pdf)May 2018 Minutes (pdf)​
​May 4, 2018 - SurveyMonkey Committee May 2018 Committee Agenda (pdf)
​February 28, 2018 February 2018 Agenda (pdf)​February 2018 Minutes (pdf)​
November 29, 2017  ​November 2017 Agenda (pdf)November 2017 Minutes (pdf)

August 30, 2017

August 2017 Agenda (pdf)

August 2017 Minutes (pdf)
May 31, 2017 May 2017 Agenda (pdf)May 2017 Minutes (pdf)
February 22, 2017 February 2017 Agenda (pdf)February 2017 Minutes (pdf)
November 30, 2016
November 2016 Agenda (pdf)November 2016 Minutes (pdf)
August 31, 2016
August 2016 Agenda (pdf)August 2016 Minutes (pdf)
May 25, 2016
May 2016 Agenda (pdf)May 2016 Minutes (pdf)
February 24, 2016
February 2016 Agenda (pdf) February 2016 Minutes (pdf)

Variances and Waivers

Nurse Staffing Variances

Under ORS 441.763(6), a hospital may vary from requirements related to staffing ratios for direct care registered nurses if:

  • The hospital is a Type A or Type B hospital;
  • The requirement being varied is in ORS 441.765;
  • The nurse staffing committee has voted to approved the variance; and
  • The Co-Chairs of the nurse staffing committee submit a signed statement to OHA that the nurse staffing committee voted to approve the variance.
The variance becomes effective upon submission of the signed statement. Hospitals must notify OHA of a variance through the online Nurse Staffing Variance for Type A & Type B Hospitals Form.

Hospital Staffing Waivers

HFLC may waive one or more of the staffing plan requirements if the waiver is necessary to ensure that the hospital is staffed to meet the health care needs of its patients.

Waiver requests must

  • Be submitted in writing;
  • State the reason the hospital is seeking the waiver;
  • Explain how the waiver is necessary for the hospital to meet patient health care needs; and
  • Include verification that the hospital nurse staffing committee has been notified of the request for waiver.

Hospitals can use the Hospital Staffing Waiver Request Form (pdf) to prepare the written request.

Hospital Staffing Complaint Process

HFLC staff will be developing new tools for hospital staffing complaint investigations to align with the bases for noncompliance citations specified in Oregon Revised Statute 441.792. 

  • OHA surveyors review complaints sent to the OHA and seek any additional information they need. Once surveyors have a completed complaint intake, OHA
    • Provides a copy of the complaint to the staff member's Exclusive Representative
    • Notifies the hospital, staffing committee co-chairs, and Exclusive Representative of the pending complaint;
    • Receives documentation regarding the allegations from the hospital; and
    • Conducts an investigation within 80 days;
  • Investigations include review of relevant records and interviews of any person(s) deemed necessary to determine compliance;
  • After an investigation, OHA sends the hospital, the staffing committee co-chairs, and the Exclusive Representative a written report that explains any hospital staffing concerns found during the investigation. OHA will be able to assess civil monetary penalties for violations that occur on or after June 1, 2025; and
  • OHA maintains and posts complaint reports online (see below).
Hospital staff members and Exclusive Representatives can submit a complaint about an alleged violation of the hospital staffing law through OHA's online Hospital Staffing Complaint Intake Form

NOTE: The Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI) enforces the laws related to meal and rest break complaints. Before June 1, 2025, meal and rest break complaints are subject to the limitations in ORS 653.261 and OAR 839-020-0050. You may file a complaint about missed meal and rest breaks directly with BOLI through the BOLI Complaint Resolution Center

Hospital Staffing Plan Submission & Posting

Oregon's hospital staffing law requires hospitals to submit Nurse Staffing Plans, Professional/Technical Staffing Plans, and Services Staffing Plans to OHA within 30 days of approval by the staffing committee.

Hospitals may submit their approved plans through OHA's online Hospital Staffing Plan Submission Form.




View Reports from Nurse Staffing Surveys and Hospital Staffing Complaint Investigations

Listed below are reports generated from nurse staffing surveys and hospital staffing complaint investigations.

  • You can search this listing by facility name, city, county or zip code. TIP: Start typing in the search box to filter the list.
  • All documents are in PDF format.

Annual Summary Reports




2022 (pdf)
2021 (pdf)
2012 (pdf)
2020 (pdf)
2011 (pdf)
2019 (pdf)
2010 (pdf)
2018 (pdf)
2009 (pdf)
2017 (pdf)
2008 (pdf)
2016 (pdf)
2006-2007 (pdf)
2015 (pdf)
2005 (pdf)
2014 (pdf)
2004 (pdf)
2013 (pdf)
2003 (pdf)




If you have questions about hospital nurse staffing, please email us: mailbox.nursestaffing@odhsoha.oregon.gov
 
If you need any of these documents in large print, please contact us:
Phone: 971-673-0540
Fax: 971-673-0556
TTY: 711