19 Nursing Industry Statistics
Nursing stands as one of humanity's long-standing vocations, yet it continually transforms. Staying informed about its current trends enhances your awareness of your potential within this domain. Here’s a glimpse of intriguing statistics and insights into the nursing landscape.
**Employment in Nursing**
With approximately 5.2 million registered nurses, this profession leads in size across the U.S. healthcare sector, with nearly 90% practicing actively. The demand continues to rise as the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts the creation of over 203,000 new RN roles by 2031, marking a 5% growth. Nurses are among the best-compensated professionals, with an average salary of $77,600 annually.
New nurses are welcomed with enthusiasm and high expectations, as more employers prefer a bachelor's degree, with 28% mandating a BSN and 72% showing a strong preference for BSN-qualified nurses. The call for nurses with MSN or DPN degrees is surging, outpacing the available talent, as only 17.4% have a master's and under 3% possess a doctoral degree. LinkedIn ranked registered nursing as the third most sought-after job in the U.S. in 2023.
A survey on a nursing platform indicated over half of 4,380 nurses received a pay raise in the last year, while 25% got one in the last two years. Clinicians saw more frequent raises than managers. Around half of nurse managers got a discretionary bonus in the past year, with 23% receiving a nondiscretionary bonus, and 7% both.
**Nursing Demographics**
The field is witnessing an aging workforce, with the median nurse age at 46, and over 25% planning retirement within five years. Although historically female-dominated, male participation is rising, with men comprising 11.2% of the workforce in 2022, a significant increase from 9.4% in 2020.
Despite attracting diverse individuals, the demographic is mainly White, with 80% identifying as White/Caucasian, 7.4% as Asian, 6.3% as Black/African American, and 2.5% identifying with multiple races. Less than 1% are Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or other Pacific Islanders, and 6.9% are Hispanic.
**Job Highlights**
There are four times as many RNs in the U.S. compared to doctors, with roles spanning primary, preventive, and specialized care in areas like pediatrics, women's health, and oncology. Nurses today are more autonomous, involved in direct patient care, case management, and research, and they help shape practice standards. Over 355,000 nurse practitioners operate in the U.S., with 36,000 completing their studies during 2020-2021.
For 19 years, Gallup polls show the public regards nurses as the most honest and ethical professionals. In 2020, there were 78,740 nonfatal workplace injury cases among RNs in private sectors, a 290.8% rise from 2019. Injuries mainly stemmed from overexertion, with falls, slips, and trips accounting for 25%, and 40.8% related to patient interactions.
**Job Satisfaction**
Nursing ranks as the eighth-best healthcare job and seventeenth overall, with nurse practitioners topping healthcare job rankings. Of 7,540 U.S. nurses surveyed, 72% are content with their career choice, though 27% wouldn't choose nursing again. The survey also found 36% of RNs are very burned out, with 32% somewhat burned out. Up to 60% report sleep issues. An ANA survey noted an increase in workplace violence reports but also satisfaction with responses, implying the Joint Commission's 2022 mandate might be effective.
