Survey gives snapshot of today’s nursing workforce

Editor's Note

RNs today are younger, more diverse, and more highly educated, according to the 2015 National Nursing Workforce Survey.

Results show:

• The average age of RNs is 48.8 years, showing that the aging of the RN population is slowing and that retirements portend no impending shortage.
• Men made up 8% of RNs in 2015, compared to 5.8% in 2000. Ethnic minorities were 19.5% of the workforce in 2013 and 2015 and accounted for higher proportions of younger, recently licensed RNs.
• Compared with earlier surveys, more RNs hold a baccalaureate or higher degree, and more earned a BSN as their initial credential−especially RNs licensed from 2013 to 2015.

The workforce survey was first conducted in 2013 by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers.

AJN, American Journal of Nursing: doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000490160.30909.7a Halpern, Lucy Wang Abstract RNs today are younger, more diverse, and more highly educated than before. The 2015 National Nursing Workforce Survey results are in, and the trends are positive, with sufficient numbers of new RNs entering the profession to offset concerns about a potential nursing shortage as a result of retirements.