Survey: Most nurses plan to stay despite financial, staffing, job satisfaction concerns

Editor's Note

Financial strain, stress, and uncertainty are not enough to deter many US nurses from saying their education and careers have been worthwhile.

That is one reading of the results of Nurse.org’s 2025 Nurse Survey, which collected responses from more than 6,000 US nurses between January and April. Overall, 69% of respondents said becoming a nurse was worth it, and nearly half would recommend the career to others despite ongoing challenges. Notably, surgical nurses were more likely to express a desire to leave the field.

As detailed in a June 24 announcement, other key findings focused on the following categories:

• Pay and cost of living.  Nurses reported a wide range of earnings, with 37% earning between $61,000 and $90,000 and 21% earning more than $100,000. While 47% received modest raises of 1–5% in the past year, 30% reported no change and 10% saw pay cuts. Just 14% received raises greater than 5%. Fifty-one percent said their salary covers most expenses only with careful budgeting, while 18% said they’re barely getting by. Roughly one-third of nurses supplement their income—most commonly through overtime (24%), per diem shifts (19%), or non-nursing side work (14%).
• Education and debt. The most common credential is a bachelor’s degree (45%), followed by associate’s degrees (23%), master’s degrees or higher (17%), and certificates or diplomas (14%). The survey showed wide variation in student debt, and 83% believe their education was worth it. The number planning to pursue additional education increased to 42% from 36% last year.
• Job satisfaction. While 55% rated their satisfaction as high, 30% gave a neutral score, and 15% reported low satisfaction. Community health, obstetrics, ambulatory care, and non-bedside nurses reported the highest satisfaction levels, while float nurses, long-term care nurses, and critical care nurses were the least satisfied.
• Intent to leave bedside roles. The profession is split, with 28% saying they are very likely to leave bedside roles within the next year and another 28% said they are very unlikely to do so. Specialties most considering a transition include community health nurses, float and ambulatory nurses (despite high satisfaction), and critical care nurses. 
• Intent to leave nursing entirely. Most nurses—63%—said they are very unlikely to leave the profession entirely, while just 10% said they are very likely to do so. Surgical and community health nurses (19%) and emergency and obstetrics nurses (18%) were the most likely to consider exiting the field. 
• Year-over-year trends. Sixty-two percent reported no change in pay or benefits from last year, and 52% saw no shift in working conditions. However, 44% reported worsening staffing levels, and 45% reported a decline in mental health or stress levels. No category saw a majority of nurses report improvement.
• Views on AI. While 22% believe AI will revolutionize nursing, 32% disagreed. 28% said AI will aid decision-making, 27% expect it to improve patient care, and 27% think it could reduce costs—yet comparable proportions were unconvinced. The one clear consensus: 51% believe AI will change the role of nurses in the future.

For insights specific to perioperative nurses, look for the results from OR Manager’s Career/Salary Survey, which will be published later this year. For last year's results, check out these insights on staffing, earnings, and specific to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).