Title and Earnings
Title and Earnings
Average Earnings
Changes in average earnings of RNs were examined based on the actual average earnings of RNs employed full-time in the labor market and the “real” average earnings (average earnings inflated by the consumer price index (CPI) for 1980-2004). The actual average annual earnings of RNs employed full-time in 2004 were $57,784 which appears to be an increase from average earnings in 2000 ($46,782).
When changes in the purchasing power of the dollar are taken into account utilizing the CPI, the “real” earnings of RNs employed full-time in 2004 were estimated as $26,366 compared to $17,398 in 1980 and $23,369 in 2000. This change represents a 12.8 percent increase since 2000 and is the first significant up-turn in “real” earnings since 1988. Between 1988 and 1992 RNs experienced an 11.2 percentage increase in “real” earnings, but “real” salaries were relatively flat from 1992 through 2000.
Advanced Practice Nurses
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) include clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners. In March 2004, the number of RNs prepared to practice in at least one advanced practice role was estimated to be 240,461, or 8.3 percent of the total RN population, compared to an estimated 196,000, or 7.3 percent estimated from the 2000 Survey. The largest group among APRNs was nurse practitioners, followed by the clinical nurse specialists. These two groups together, including those with dual or multiple training as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, nurse midwife, and/or or nurse anesthetist, comprised over 199,000 nurses, or 82.8 percent of all advanced practice nurses.
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) included RNs prepared beyond initial nursing education in an NP program of at least three months. In March 2004, there were an estimated 141,209 RNs with credentials as NPs, indicating an estimated increase of 38,560 NPs from 2000. About 65.5 percent of NPs had completed a master’s degree program and an additional 10.5 percent had a post-master's certificate as their NP preparation. An estimated 87.7 percent of NPs were employed in nursing, with 65.7 percent of NPs employed in nursing reporting the position title as “Nurse Practitioner.” Of the nurses who were NPs, 74.8 percent reported being currently certified by a national organization in an APRN specialty.
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) were defined in this survey as RNs who had formal clinical preparation resulting in a master’s degree. The estimated number of CNSs increased from 69,071 in 2000 to 72,521 in 2004. These estimates include RNs who have CNS preparation alone or in combination other APN specialty preparation. The vast majority of prepared CNSs, 93.3 percent, received their CNS award through a master’s program, with an additional 3.8 percent of CNSs prepared through a post-master’s certificate.
About 85.1 percent of the prepared CNSs were employed in nursing; however, only 16.5 percent were practicing with the position title of “Clinical Nurse Specialist.” About 16 percent of the CNSs were estimated to be in nursing education positions and the remaining CNSs reported a variety of position titles.
Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist
The estimated number of RNs prepared as both NPs and CNSs was about the same as in 2000, with 14,643 NP/CNSs estimated in March 2000 and 14,689 estimated in March 2004. RNs prepared as both NPs and CNSs were more than 10 times more likely to function in the NP role than in the CNS role, as indicated by position title.
Nurse Anesthetist
The third largest group of RNs who indicated APN preparation were nurse anesthetists. The number of nurse anesthetists estimated in March 2004 was 32,523 compared to 29,844 in 2000. While 37.2 percent of the nurse anesthetists had received their educational nurse anesthetist preparation through a master’s program, 58.0 percent received their education preparation through a post-RN certificate. In 2004, 89.6 percent of the nurse anesthetists were employed in nursing; 82.3 percent of the employed nurse anesthetists held the position title of “Nurse Anesthetist.” Of those who were prepared as nurse anesthetists, 93.1 percent were estimated to be currently certified in an APN specialty by a national organization.
Nurse Midwives
In March 2004, there were an estimated 13,684 RNs formally prepared as nurse midwives compared to 9,232 in 2000. While 56.5 percent of these RNs received their educational preparation in this specialty through a master’s program and an additional 5.8 percent through a post-master's certificate, 36.9 percent were estimated to have received their nurse midwife preparation through a certificate program. Of those prepared as nurse midwives, 89.3 percent were employed in nursing in 2004 compared to 85.7 percent in 2000. An estimated 57.6 percent of the nurse midwives employed in nursing in 2004 identified their position title as nurse midwife. Of the RNs who were prepared as nurse midwives, an estimated 93.7 percent are currently being certified in an APN specialty by a national organization.
Registered Nurses in Nursing Faculty Positions
One issue that has received considerable attention in recent years is the shortage of nurses in faculty positions. The 2004 defined the principal nursing position as a faculty position if a RN was teaching RNs in diploma, associate, baccalaureate, and/or higher degree programs. It is estimated that the principal nursing position of 48,666 RNs in March 2004 was as nursing faculty. Of these nurses, 11 percent were faculty in diploma programs, 40.1 percent were faculty in associate degree programs, and 48.8 percent were in baccalaureate and/or higher degree programs. The average age of faculty nurses was 46.8 years, but the estimated average age of faculty nurses with doctorates in nursing or a related field was 55.7 years. However, the age group with the highest percent of faculty was the 50 to 54 year age group with 21.4 percent of faculty in this age group. An additional 25.4 percent were in the age groups 40 to 50 and 12.1 percent of RNs in faculty positions were in the age group 25 to 34 years. Although only 19.6 percent of faculty nurses were in the under 40 age group, 30.1 percent were over age 55.