Nursing by the Numbers [Infographic]

Americans love their nurses—for the 17th consecutive year, nursing ranked as the nation’s most trusted profession in Gallup’s 2018 poll about honesty and ethics in professions. At the same time, the U.S. is facing a nursing shortage.

In this infographic, we take a close look at up-to-date information surrounding various aspects of nursing in the United States. We examine such nursing data as:

• Total U.S. nursing population
• RNs by gender, age, and race/ethnicity
• Job satisfaction rates
• Levels of education attained
• Thoughts on nurse leadership
• Numbers of nursing specialties
• Rates of job growth and employment need
• Retirement statistics

Nurses are the backbone of the health care industry; we admire and respect the integral role they play in America’s health care system. Let’s look at recent data that gives a snapshot of nursing in the U.S.

Nursing by the Numbers Infographic Content

Total U.S. Nursing Population

2,906,840 registered nurses - BLS
155,500 nurse practitioners - BLS

Men in Nursing

The percentage of nurses who are male is increasing:

2013 - 7% male
2015 - 8% male
2017 - 9% male

• The 2017 National Nursing Workforce Survey

Age

The average age of RNs in 2017: 51

• National Nursing Workforce Study

Race/Ethnicity

75.3% White
9.9% Black or African American
8.3% Asian
4.8% Hispanic
1.3% Two or more races
0.4% American Indian or Alaskan Native

• Minority Nurse

Job Satisfaction

83% of nurses are satisfied with nursing as a career choice
66% of nurses say they would encourage others to become nurses
60% of nurses say they are satisfied with their current jobs

• AMN Healthcare 

Respect

17: The number of consecutive years nursing has been rated the most trusted profession

• Gallup

Educational Attainment

The number of RNs who qualify for their first U.S. nursing license with a BSN is increasing:

2013 - 36%
2015 - 39%
2017 - 42%

• National Nursing Workforce Study

Nurse Leadership

82% of nurses agree or strongly agree that more nurses are needed in executive health care leadership roles

When asked about their plans to pursue leadership roles:

61% are not planning to pursue a leadership position
22% responded “yes”
17% said they were already in a leadership position

• AMN Healthcare

10 Prominent Nursing Specialties

• Ambulatory care nurse
• Case management nurse
• Hospice nurse
• Medical-surgical nurse
• Nurse educator
• Nurse executive
• Nurse practitioner
• Pediatric nurse
• Psychiatric nurse
• Public health nurse

Job Growth & Employment Need

Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 15% from 2016 to 2026 - BLS

Employment for nurse practitioners is expected to grow 31% from 2016 to 2026 - BLS

7 states are facing critical nursing shortages. By 2030, the projected number of open positions in these states will be:

California: 44,500
Texas: 15,900
New Jersey: 11,400
South Carolina: 10,400
Alaska: 5,400
Georgia: 2,200
South Dakota: 1,900

• U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration

Retirement

More than 55% of registered nurses are 50 years old or older.

More than 1 million registered nurses will be eligible for retirement within the next 15 years.

• The American Association of Colleges of Nursing

73% of Baby Boomer nurses who are planning to retire say they will do so in 3 years or less

• AMN Healthcare

Learn More About Earning a Nursing Degree

Purdue University Global offers a variety of nursing degrees that can help you start or advance your nursing career. Learn more about nursing degrees at Purdue Global or request information.