America’s nursing workforce has become more diverse over the past 15 years, according to new federal data, but underrepresentation remains a problem in a field struggling with burnout and racism. A diverse nursing workforce can reduce health disparities, provide more culturally competent care and, in turn, improve patient outcomes.
Black registered nurses made up 11% of the workforce in 2022, up from 8% in 2018 and about 5% in 2008, according to a survey of 50,000 nurses conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. 9% of RNs identified as Asian in 2022, up almost double from 5% in 2018. However, Black and Hispanic nurses are still underrepresented compared to the U.S. population. The share of Hispanic nurses actually fell to 10% in 2022 from 12% in 2018. The share of nurses who speak Spanish also dropped to 7% from 9%.
See “Nursing workforce is becoming more diverse” by Maya Goldman on the Axios website (April 1, 2024)
