Registered Nurses: Characteristics of the Workforce
More licensed registered nurses are in the United States than ever before, according to the survey "The Registered Nurse Population: Initial Findings from the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses," conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A diverse workforce consisting of 3,063,163 people, they differ in education levels, age, and race.
The educational attainment of the current nursing population is increasing. Fewer registered nurses (20.4 percent) are entering the field with a diploma in nursing, and more are beginning their careers with an associate degree (45.4 percent) or a bachelor's degree (33.7 percent). More nurses are pursuing even higher forms of education as well, with those with advanced degrees equaling 13.2 percent in 2008. There has also been a growth in the number of nurses with master's or doctoral degrees in nursing or a related field, with significantly more, 404,163, earning advanced degrees in 2008 from 275,068 in 2000.
The age of registered nurses has been consistently rising for the fast 20 years. Almost 45 percent of registered nurses were 50 years or older, a large increase from 33 percent in 2000. The majority of registered nurses, 84.8 percent, are actively working in their field with 63.2 working full time. Of the nurses working full time, more than 75 percent of them are under the age of 30. As nurses age, they report that they are less likely to be working in nursing positions. In fact, after the age of 50, the shares of registered nurses tend to drop for each age group, from 87.5 percent of nurses in the 50 to 54 age range to 85.1 percent of those in the 55 to 59 range.
The percentage of white, non-Hispanic RNs has decreased from 87.5 percent in 2004 to 83.2 percent in 2008, which means the diversity of the workforce is gradually increasing. The next largest group at 5.8 percent consists of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders. Next, 5.4 percent RNs are African American, and 3.6 percent are Hispanic or Latino. The nursing population is changing as more diverse nursing graduates are entering the field. Hispanics are the quickest growing group, rising from 4.8 percent of graduates between 1996 to 2000 to 7.1 since 2005. Of those groups that have also graduated since 2005, 4.8 percent are Asian and 7.4 percent African American.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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