- Half (50 percent) of RNs have achieved a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing or a nursing-related field in 2008, this is compared to 27.5 percent in 1980.
- The average age of all licensed RNs increased to 47.0 years in 2008 from 46.8 in 2004; this represents a stabilization after many years of continuing large increases in average age.
- Average annual earnings for RNs in 2008 were $66,973. RNs’ salaries rose almost 15.9 percent since 2004, which slightly outpaced inflation.
- An estimated 444,668 RNs received their first U.S. license over the period from 2004 to 2008.
HRSA Study Finds Nursing Workforce is Growing and More Diverse
The number of licensed registered nurses (RNs) in the United States grew to a new high of 3.1 million between 2004 and 2008 according to a report released by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This increase of more than 5 percent also reflects growing diversity in the backgrounds of nurses in the United States. Some of the findings include:
