Nursing is a field full of opportunity, with impressive projected job growth combined with a need for skilled professionals to address an ongoing staffing shortage. From registered nurses (RNs) to licensed practical or vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs), and from nurse practitioners (NPs) to nurse anesthetists, nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry. We’ve gathered 60 statistics that reveal surprising truths about the demographics of nurses, job satisfaction, average salaries, the nursing shortage, COVID’s impact on the profession, and nursing education. These key nursing stats and trends—detailed in eye-catching infographics—reveal the realities of American nursing in 2021.
Section 2 Nursing Satisfaction Statistics
Section 3 Nursing Salary Statistics
Section 4 Nursing Shortage Statistics
Section 5 Nursing Injury Statistics
Section 6 Nurses and COVID-19 Statistics
Section 7 Current Trends in Nursing
Section 8 Statistics on Nursing Students
Section 9 Trends in Nursing Education
Nursing Demographics in 2021
Let’s start with a statistical look at the people who work in nursing, one of the country’s most populous professions.
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There are almost 4.2 million RNs and 950,000 LPNs/LVNs in the United States.
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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Over 325,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed in the United States.
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There are 4x as many nurses in the United States as there are physicians.
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Nursing careers make up the largest portion of America’s healthcare professions.
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The median age of a registered nurse is 52 years old.
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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The RN workforce is:
81% Caucasian7.2% Asian6% Black5.6% Hispanic
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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9.4% of the RN and 8.1% of the LPN/LVN workforce are men.
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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The LPN/LVN workforce is:
69.5% Caucasian5% Asian17.2% Black10% Hispanic
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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The number of male nurses has tripled over the past 50 years.
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In the Pacific region of the U.S., 30.5% of nurses are people of color, the largest percentage in the country.
Nursing Satisfaction Statistics
Nursing is a well-respected profession that requires dedication, ethics, and compassion. Here, we examine how nurses feel about their profession, as well as how American society perceives nurses.
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In Gallup polls, nurses have been identified as the most honest and ethical professionals for the past 19 years.
They won 89% of the vote in 2020.
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The job of nurse practitioner is ranked #3 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Jobs list.
U.S. News and World Report, Jan. 2021
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Between 93% and 98% of all nurses are happy they chose a career in nursing.
Medscape Nurse Career Satisfaction Report, 2020
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If they had to do it over again, 85% of nurses say they would still choose their current career.
American Nurse Journal, Nov. 2020
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17.5% of new nurses leave their first job within 1 year.
Policy, Politics and Nursing Practice, Nov. 2014
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Registered nurse is ranked #14 and nurse anesthetist is ranked #15 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Healthcare Jobs list.
U.S. News and World Report, Jan. 2021
Nursing Salary Statistics
Knowing the potential financial benefits and job opportunities available can be a powerful motivator for beginning a nursing career.
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The median annual salary for registered nurses in 2020 was $75,330.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2021
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The median annual salary for LPN/LVN was $48,820 in 2020.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2021
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Advanced practice nurses (including NPs, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives) earned a median annual salary of $117,670 in 2020.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2021
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Registered nursing is one of the highest-paying large occupations.
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There are over 3 million open nursing jobs in the United States, with a projected growth of 7% between 2019 and 2029.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2021
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60% of RNs work in hospitals, with 18% in ambulatory care, 7% in nursing and residential care facilities, 5% in government, and 3% in educational services.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2021
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Registered nursing is the 4th most in-demand profession in the American workforce today.
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64.9% of currently employed RNs and 65.7% of LPNs/LVNs work in nursing full-time.
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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Arizona is ranked the best state for nurses based on its average annual salary, projected job growth and cost of living index.
Nursing Shortage Statistics
The current nursing shortage is a major factor in understanding the state of American healthcare.
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1.1 million nurses are needed by 2022 to address the current nursing shortage.
American Nurses Association, n.d.
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More than 85% of California hospitals report that demand for RNs is greater than supply.
University of California at San Francisco, 2020
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The nursing shortage is due in part to the rapid 73% increase of the 65+ population, which grew from 41 million in 2011 to 71 million in 2019.
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Retiring nurses also means retiring nursing faculty, translating to fewer nurses being trained to fill in the gaps.
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More than 1/5 of all nurses plan to retire within the next 5 years.
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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Nursing shortages can lead to errors, higher morbidity, and higher mortality rates.
Nursing Injuries Statistics
Nurses spend many hours on their feet and are exposed to potentially harmful health risks, which can lead to injuries on the job.
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In 2019, RNs experienced 20,150 incidences of nonfatal injuries or illnesses.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov. 2020
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In 2016, 74% of RNs’ nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses happened in hospitals.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov. 2018
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Registered nurses experienced more workplace injuries than construction workers in 2019.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov. 2020
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The most common occupational injury for RNs in 2016 was overexertion and bodily reaction, accounting for 45.6% of cases.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov. 2018
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Of nurses’ workplace injuries in 2016, falls, slips, and trips represented 25%.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov. 2018
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In 2016, 40.8% of the injuries and illnesses sustained by RNs were caused by patients.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nov. 2018
Nurses and COVID-19 Statistics
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the country’s ongoing need for more nurses to meet the demands of a global health crisis.
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In a recent survey, 41% of nurses reported experiencing high exposure to COVID-19.
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A recent study showed that nurses suffered the highest death count among U.S. healthcare workers.
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High numbers of nurses reported feelings of being overwhelmed (51%), anxious (48%), and irritable(48%) in the midst of the pandemic.
American Nurses Foundation, Aug. 2020
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In an ANA survey during the pandemic, 3 out of 5 nurses reported difficulty sleeping.
American Nurses Foundation, Aug. 2020
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Over 25% of the nurses who died from COVID-19 are Filipino American, even though only 4% of American nurses identify as Filipino.
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In a survey by American Nurse Journal, 85% of nurses said they do not plan to change careers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Nurse Journal, Nov. 2020
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Nurses were less likely to receive emotional support to deal with the stresses of COVID-19 than other healthcare workers.
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The demand for skilled nurses during the pandemic revealed the need for more nursing faculty.
National League for Nursing, 2020
Current Trends in Nursing
The challenges and strain facing nurses from the pandemic has led to these growing trends in nursing in 2021.
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Nurses’ salaries are on the rise. In a recent survey, 55% reported a pay raise in the previous 12 months.
American Nurse Journal, Nov. 2020
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The demand for travel nurses is rapidly increasing, with 91% of nurse staffing agencies reporting revenue growth year over year.
Staffing Industry Analysts, Feb. 2021
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COVID-19 has led to an emergency allowance of cross-state medical practice through an enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2020
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Telehealth is here to stay, with usage having stabilized at levels 38x higher than the pre-pandemic baseline.
Nursing Student Statistics
From certificate programs to advanced nursing degrees like a master of science in nursing (MSN), education is a critical step in every nursing career path.
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65.2% of RNs have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, while 1.4% have earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey
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Within 4 to 6 months of completing their programs, 95% of BSN graduates and 93% of MSN graduates have secured job offers.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2022
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76% of new BSN grads and 74% of entry-level MSN graduates had a job offer upon graduation.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2020
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A bachelor’s degree is now a requirement for new hires by 28% of employers, and strongly preferred by 72% of employers.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2023
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Nurse educators are predominantly women, with a ratio of: 93% Female 7% Male
National League for Nursing, 2020
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In 2020, more than 36,000 people graduated from nurse practitioner programs.
American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2021
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Black nurses outpace white nurses in securing advanced nursing degrees, 14.6% to 13.4%.
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Only 16.6% of full-time nursing faculty are people of color. Black 9% Hispanic 3.4% Asian 2.9% Native American .4% Multiracial .8%
National League for Nursing, 2020
Trends in Nursing Education
As the landscape of education adjusted to increased remote learning in 2020-2021, nursing students will encounter some new and ongoing trends.
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Expect the online education opportunities to continue post-pandemic, as reports show that a blend of in-person and distance learning can be pedagogically beneficial to nursing students.
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Advanced nursing degrees will attract more new students, based on recent enrollment increases in master’s and doctoral programs.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, April 2021
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More clinical sites are needed at nursing educational institutions. More than 80,000 qualified applicants were turned away from schools of nursing due to a shortage of sites and other resources in 2020.
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The search for more nursing faculty continues. 82% of schools surveyed said they are seeking to hire new faculty.
National League for Nursing, 2020
The nursing industry is a foundational aspect of healthcare in America. With the heightened need for nurses at every level, as well as nurse educators, the time is right to explore the opportunities that a career in nursing offers.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, and Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates designed for working nurses. Our nursing degrees are offered online, with optional on-campus immersions.* (currently postponed due to COVID-19). Role specialties include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Educator,** and Nurse Executive. The MSN has several options to accelerate your time to degree completion. Earn your advanced nursing degree while keeping your work and life in balance.
*The FNP role specialty includes two required hands-on clinical intensives as part of the curriculum.
**The Nurse Educator role specialty is not available for the DNP program.
