In March 2024, HRSA released new data, survey results, and workforce projections on the U.S. nursing workforce.
Key findings of the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) show that the nursing workforce is becoming more diverse, more highly educated, but less satisfied with their job. The survey data also show the effects of COVID on the profession, while workforce projections show shortages increasing in nursing occupations through 2036.
Read the factsheet (PDF - 83 KB) for more information.
In 2022–2023, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau, surveyed registered nurses in the United States. Nearly 50,000 registered nurses provided data. We compiled the results, produced several reports on the data, and updated an easy-to-use dashboard to display the latest information.
From its inaugural assessment in 1977, the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) represents the longest running survey of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The survey examines the characteristics of registered nurses and their experiences in nursing.
We provide summary reports as well as a dashboard to present our findings on the nursing workforce, based on data from the 2022 NSSRN.
The Nursing Workforce Dashboard visualizes data from both the 2022 and 2018 NSSRN, which includes detailed information on the nursing workforce in the United States. This dashboard provides insights on the nursing profession by showing their work environment, education, demographics, hours, earnings, and more. It also helps us predict what nurses will need in the future.
The dashboard enables you to access the 400,000 unique data points from the survey and visualize this data on the nursing workforce landscape, including demographics, employment, education, earnings, and hours for various categories of nurses (RNs, NPs, and APRNs).
The dashboard serves as a benchmark for providing educators, health workforce leaders, and policymakers with key details and developments of the nursing workforce supply.
Because these data were based on the nursing workforce in December 2021, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is now reflected in the dashboard.
We developed these videos in Zoom to demonstrate how to use the features of the dashboard.
