Student Health Nurse

Nurse visits are available to help talk through your symptoms and direct you to the right level of care. This might include home care, an appointment with a primary care provider, or a visit to a local urgent care or emergency department.

Here are two ways to connect:

1. Request an appointment:
   • Log in to the OSU Patient Portal
   • Click Messages > New Message > Send Message to Cascades nurse
   • In your message, please include a few times that work for you Monday–Thursday between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., as well as the reason for your visit.
   • The nurse will reply as soon as possible with the next available appointment time.
2. Nurse advice is available by phone 24/7.
   • Call 541-737-9355 (Main line for OSU Student Health Services in Corvallis)
     • During business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm):
       • Tell the receptionist you’re a Cascades student and want to speak with a nurse. If the Cascades nurse isn't in, a Corvallis nurse will reach out to you.
     • After hours:
       • Follow the instructions in the phone message to connect with the nurse advice line.

• Health care supplies (including bandages, elastic wraps, soaking basins, thermometers, tea, honey, tissues, masks, ice packs, electrolyte packets, and throat lozenges). Crutches are available for loan.
• Over-the-counter medications for current symptoms: Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), Tylenol (acetaminophen), Claritin (loratadine), antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream.
• At-home COVID-19 tests
• Emergency contraception
• First aid, minor wound/injury care
• Care for certain common health issues, such as protocol-based prescriptions for urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms and ear irrigation for impacted earwax.
• Vital signs checks (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations/pulse oximetry)
• Here to listen. Able to help students connect with OSU-Cascades counseling department as needed.

Student Health and Wellness services are supported through student fees. There is no additional charge to meet with the Student Health Nurse. Most routine supplies and samples of over-the-counter medications are also provided at no extra cost.

If a visit requires a supply with an additional charge, the student will be informed of the price before it is provided. Charges are added to the student account as “Nursing Services and Supplies.”

Outside providers and pharmacies have their own costs. Students with health insurance are encouraged to contact their insurance company in advance, when possible, to ask about coverage and expected out-of-pocket expenses before receiving care or filling prescriptions.

If you or someone else is in imminent danger and/or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. 

The national suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached 24/7 by dialing 988. 

Good reasons to go to the emergency room:

• Losing consciousness
• Severe pain
• Severe trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop
• Poisoning (contact the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222 for immediate advice)
• A major injury, such as a head injury
• Severe or worsening reaction to an inset bite or a medication, especially if breathing is difficult
• Stupor, drowsiness, or disorientation that cannot be explained

Other resources can be found here. 
 

The OSU-Cascades nurse is not able to lift registration holds. This can only be done by the OSU Immunization Coordinator. Information about holds, vaccine requirements, where to get vaccines, and how to contact the Immunization Coordinator is available here.

Health Insurance

OSU Student Health staff does not provide medical excuses from academic obligations, including class attendance and academic work. More information is available here.