18 Nursing Profession Trending Statistics to Watch

Between dealing with COVID-19 and the rising demand for professionals in healthcare, the field of nursing has recently taken center stage on several fronts. If you are considering entering this line of work, or want to know more about what the numbers say regarding this role, knowing what current research shows is a good place to start. From job satisfaction, salary data, the ongoing nursing shortage, and the impact of COVID-19, read below for 18 of the top trending statistics on the nursing profession. 

Overall, the nursing profession has always been in high demand. A big reason nurses are so desperately needed is the fact that the United States has experienced shortages off and on since the early 1900s. The current shortage is due to a number of factors, including the amount of time it takes for nurses to graduate from a wide range of programs depending on the specialization, as well as spikes in the influx of patients due to the aging American population and public health issues like the pandemic. 

The shortage impacts the staff of hospitals across the country. Nurses are often tasked with working long shifts, making it challenging to avoid mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Luckily, there are strategies available to help mitigate nurse fatigue. Take a look at these tips for dealing with an energy decrease when planning the next steps in your own nursing career. 

Nursing and COVID-19 Statistics

1. Despite the pandemic, 85% of nurses reported to remain unwavering in their decision to remain in the nursing profession. (American Nurse Journal, November 2020)
2. One survey reported that about 60% of nurses reported trouble sleeping. (American Nurses Foundation, August 2020)
3. The rise in demand for nurses since the pandemic hit uncovered a faculty shortage. (National League for Nursing, 2020)

Nursing Salary Statistics  

4. There are currently over 3 million nursing jobs in America, with a projected growth of about 7% happening between 2019 and 2029. (Bureau of Labor Statistic, June 2021)
5. Nursing is one of the highest paying large occupations. (AACN, April 2019)
6. The average salary in 2020 was $75,330. (Bureau of Labor Statistic, June 2021)
7. Over half of the national labor force work in the field full time. (National Nursing Workforce Survey, 2020)
8. In a nationwide survey, over half of nurses reported a pay raise in the past year. (American Nurse Journal, 2020)

Nursing Demographics in 2021

9. There are four times more nurses than doctors in the United States. (Statista, 2020)
10. The average age for a professional nurse is 52 years old. (National Nursing Workforce Survey, 2020)
11. Less than 10% of the national workforce is male. (National Nursing Workforce Survey, 2020)
12. The United States Pacific reports the highest percentage of POC nurses. (Minority Nurse, 2015)

Statistics on Nursing Students

13. Black nurses are outpacing caucasian nurses in obtaining advanced degrees by over 1%. (Minority Nurse, 2015)
14. Nursing faculty are overwhelmingly women, with around 97% reported to be female. (National League for Nursing, 2020)
15. Over 70% of nursing grads in most entry-level positions received job offers after graduation. (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2020)

Current Trends in Nursing

16. Travel nurses are increasing in demand, with the vast majority of nursing agencies reporting revenue growth year after year. (Staffing Industry Analysis, February 2021)
17. Telehealth services are growing rapidly and have no projection of going anywhere post-pandemic, with reported usage averaging about 38x higher than before COVID-19 struck America. (Mckinsey, July 2021)
18. In a Gallup poll conducted last year, nurses were seen as the profession with the highest level of work ethic. (Gallup, December 2020)

About Our Contributor, Rebeca Camacho: Rebeca Camacho is a content creator who focuses on weaving in insightful perspectives and shedding light on informative stories. Her enthusiasm for focusing on the intersection of marketing and human development, in combination with being surrounded by doctors and healthcare workers in her family, allows her to feel blessed when working with organizations like The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.