Ongoing Event: OCCNS Leadership Nominations & Elections

The Oregon Council of Clinical Nurse Specialists (OCCNS) is seeking CNSs who are willing to serve in an open leadership role. OCCNS leadership nominations are open Sept. 8 - Oct. 8. Then, leadership elections will be open Oct. 13-24.

Help OCCNS strengthen the CNS role, support fellow CNSs, and ensure practice at the full extent of licensure.

Candidates for a leadership role in the Oregon Council of Clinical Nurse Specialists (OCCNS) must be a member in good standing of ONA as well as have a nursing graduate degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Please review the OCCNS Rules of Order for a full description of duties and terms of office for each position.

• Nominate today here by filling out your consent to serve form. 

Upcoming Event: OCCNS General Meeting, Nov. 12

We invite you to the Fall 2025 General Meeting of the Oregon Council of Clinical Nurse Specialists (OCCNS) on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, from 4pm to 6pm via Teams or phone.

This meeting will include a brief business meeting and a presentation by a panel titled, "State of the State and Innovation Strategies to Sustain and Grow CNSs in Oregon Healthcare." 1.5 CNE contact hour will be available after attendance and completion of the program evaluation.

For more information, please see the agenda flyer or contact an OCCNS Board member. We look forward to your participation! Please share with colleagues who may be interested in this or future programs and have them send us their email addresses so that we can keep them informed.

• Click here to access the meeting flyer. 
• Register here.
• Click here to join the meeting on Nov. 12, via Microsoft Teams at 4 - 6 p.m.

Past Event: OCCNS General Meeting, May 13

At the Spring 2025 General Meeting of the OCCNS/NACNS Oregon Affiliate we held a brief business meeting followed by an education session of the NACNS 2025 conference highlights. Oregon CNS presenters shared their work and trending topics regarding CNS education and employment were discussed.

• Click here to access the meeting flyer. 
• Click here to access the meeting minutes.

Past Event: NACNS Annual Conference in Boston March 2025

In March, Oregon CNS attendees learned and networked at the NACNS Annual Conference as podium and poster presenters.

Past Event: OCCNS General Meeting, Jan. 14

On Jan. 14 we held the Winter 2025 General Meeting of the OCCNS/NACNS Oregon Affiliate. It consisted of a brief business meeting as well as an education session by four panelists on the topic of "Clinical Nurse Specialist Opportunities Outside of Employment: Limitless!"

• Click here to see the meeting flier, including the agenda. 
• Click here to view the meeting minutes. 

Past Event: NW Regional CNS Conference, Nov. 9, 2024

This conference was planned by OCCNS and the NW Regional CNS group for all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and RNs and the theme was "Improving Outcomes through Collaboration and Pharmacology."  The OCCNS/NACNS Oregon Affiliate general membership meeting was held concurrently. 

• Click here to view the meeting minutes. 

Past Event: NACNS Annual Conference in Portland March 2023

OCCNS and the NW Regional CNS group collaborated with the NACNS National Conference Planning Committee to ensure a successful event and share the best of Portland with attendees.

Past Event: NPO & OCCNS Conference, Oct. 23, 2021

This conference focused on the theme "The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 and the Role of the APRN in Transforming Healthcare."

• Click here to see the conference flyer.