Study: Nursing workforce diversity increases

A Health Affairs study found the RN workforce better represented the U.S. population’s racial diversity in 2022 than in 2018, indicating improved opportunities and support for attaining nursing education for people comprising certain groups. Black RN entrants increased from 7.1% to 10.4%, Asian RN entrants increased from 7.4% to 8.0% and American Indian Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander entrants increased from 3.1% to 11.3%. However, high overall turnover rates, especially among entrants, indicate a need for ongoing efforts to improve workforce environments and initiatives to retain RNs and protect their safety and well-being, the authors say. The study used 2018 and 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses data to describe the nursing workforce’s sociodemographic characteristics and job dynamics pre- and post-pandemic.