The latest National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers data on the demographics of the nursing profession in 2018.
The data shows that there are an estimated 3,957,661 licensed registered nurses living in the United States. Roughly 83 percent held a nursing-related job. The average age of registered nurses was 47.9 years old, with nearly half of all RNs aged 50 or older.
Nursing remains a profession dominated by women but the percentage of men in nursing is growing. In 2018, male RNs represented 9.6 percent of the population, an increase from 7.1 percent in the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses conducted in 2008.
Nearly 68 percent of male nurses were employed at a hospital compared to 55.6 percent of women nurses. The median full-time earnings of male nurses was $79,928. For full-time women nurses, the median earnings were $71,960.
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The data is troubling because it does not look at the work-hour demographics and It makes more sense that 68% of males and 55% of females are employed by hospitals when there are 7 to 8 female nurses to every 1 male nurse in a hospital setting.
According to the information WIA above, there are 3,957,661 registered nurses in the U.S. Women account for approximately 3,617,302 of all nurses and men account for approximately 379,,935, a whopping difference of 3,237,367 more female nurses. Using the percentage in the WIA observation above, hospitals employ 1,989,516 female nurses and 258,355 male nurses. Women outnumber men in hospital nursing jobs by over 1.7 million. For every male nurse in a hospital setting, there is at least 7 to 8 female nurses
According to a 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, 20% of nurses worked part time and that number is likely included in the above average salary calculations. More than likely, more women choose to work part time than men, a luxury most male nurses cannot afford.
This statistic is troubling to say the least because it simply looks at averages and does not include essential demographics., like years of service, full and part time salaries, and other factors. It’s this type of reporting that does a disservice to a noble and honorable profession. Crying foul in the nursing profession is troubling to say the least.