New Survey Finds Nurses Happier, More Satisfied vs. Previous Years
- The 2024 State of Nursing report revealed that nurses were happier, more satisfied at work, and feeling better overall in 2023 than in previous years
- 44% more nurses said they were happy that they chose the nursing profession in 2023 vs 2022, and job satisfaction rose 64% from 2022 to 2023
- 69% said they love being a nurse, 61% think nursing is a great career, and 57% believe new nurses should join the profession in 2023
For the past few years, Nurse.org has released its annual State of Nursing report, looking at various trends in nursing, including salary, career goals, and what nurses think about the future of their profession. In the past, the reports revealed some eye-opening information, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the arrival of Nurses Week—a time when healthcare institutions and other healthcare professionals are celebrating nurses —we wanted to go beyond celebrations and shed some light on the real issues nurses face every day.
Our survey found that, overall, nurses' conditions have improved since previous reports in 2021 and 2022. But despite this, the nursing profession still has a very long way to go.
>> Download the 2024 State of Nursing Report
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The 2024 State of Nursing Findings
Our 2024 State of Nursing survey looked into four key areas:
- How nurses are feeling
- Career plans
- Nurse salaries
- The nursing shortage
1. Nurses Were Happier and More Satisfied at Work in 2023
Nurses reporting they were happy they chose the nursing profession rose 44% in 2023, increasing from 36% in 2022 to 52% in 2023. Job satisfaction also rose 64% from 2022 to 2023; 46% of nurses replied they were satisfied at work in 2023 vs just 28% in 2022.
The report found that job satisfaction was directly related to nurses’ education levels and specialties. Nurses with advanced degrees, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction in both 2022 and 2023. There are various reasons this could be the case, including increased salary, autonomy, and fewer “shift work” hours.
Interestingly, all nursing specialties reported higher levels of job satisfaction in 2023. The specialties with the highest satisfaction ratings were ambulatory, community health, and non-bedside, while the specialties with the lowest satisfaction ratings were emergency, critical care, and float nursing.
2. Nurses Were More Optimistic About the Nursing Profession
Nurses were more optimistic about the nursing profession overall in 2023 versus 2022, with increased rates of happiness over having chosen the profession, more nurses reporting that they think nursing is a great career, and a majority of nurses reporting that they think new nurses should join the profession.
24% of nurses said they were optimistic about the future of nursing. While this is a significant increase from just 18% of nurses in 2022, it’s still a very low percentage.
Nurses continue to advocate for the profession and encourage younger generations to pursue a degree in nursing. Despite what they’ve been through, nurses are strong and resilient.
- 69% of nurses said they love being a nurse in 2023, up from 60% in 2022
- 61% of nurses said they think nursing is a great career in 2023, up from 52% in 2022
- 57% of nurses think that new nurses should join the profession in 2023, up from 50% in 2022
- More nurses said they were optimistic about the future of nursing, 24% in 2023 vs 18% in 2022
3. Mental Health and Workplace Conditions Have Improved
Perhaps one of the most astounding findings the survey highlighted is around burnout and mental health; Nurses reported the lowest burnout rate in recent years, with 57% of nurses reporting feeling burnt out in the past year, down from 81% in 2022 and 87% in 2021. It’s important to remember that 2021 and 2022 were during the height of the pandemic. Nurses were facing their own mental health crises during that time.
Mental health rates also improved in 2023, with 64% of nurses feeling that their mental health took a toll, down from 81% in 2022 and 83% in 2021.
An ongoing trend in the survey was the lack of support bedside nurses still feel from management and other healthcare professionals. These numbers are down from previous years but are still astounding and way over the tolerable threshold.
- 52% of nurses felt unsupported at work in 2023, down from 61% in 2022 and 77% in 2021
- 53% of nurses reported not having adequate backup, an improvement from 72% in 2022, and 81% in 2021
- Nearly 60% of nurses don’t feel their unit supports nurses and patients over profits
One nurse responded, saying, “There are channels to offer feedback, but nothing seems to be done about them. Additionally, a lot of the opportunities for advancement are based on political decisions and who is going to be a "yes" person and make the higher-ups happy versus who is going to do what is best for the staff.”
4. Nurses Are Happier in Their Current Roles and Less Likely to Change Jobs or Leave the Healthcare Profession
Nurses reported that they are happier in 2023 than in previous years, with 35% of nurses saying, “I am happy where I am,” when asked about their current jobs. This number has doubled since the inception of the survey, with just 16% reporting they were happy in 2022 and 12% in 2021.
It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt the nursing profession. While these numbers are better, the fact remains that more than half of all nurses are still unhappy with their current jobs.
For the nurses who were planning to leave their current nursing position, the top reasons were:
- To make more money - 26%
- Frustration with the current administration - 26%
- Wanting an organization with a better staffing ratio - 17%
- Wanting to move into a different nursing role - 17%
For the nurses who were thinking about leaving their current nursing position, the top career plans were:
- Leaving the bedside - 24%
- Going back to school - 13%
- Per diem nursing - 8%
- Becoming a travel nurse - 8%
36% of nurses claimed they were planning on furthering their education within the next year, slightly less than in 2022 (39%). The top degrees that nurses planned on earning were a BSN (20%), specialty certification (19%), and an NP (15%).
5. Nurses STILL Want Better Pay
In previous surveys, nurses reported being underpaid and overworked. Some improvements have been made, but nurses have participated in a record number of strikes demanding pay increases in the past year.
According to the survey, the average annual salary for nurses is between $61,000 and $90,000. This tracks with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average annual salary for registered nurses in 2023 was $86,070, or $41.38 per hour.
58% of nurses reported a pay increase in 2023, but nurses still feel that they are underpaid. Many noted in the comments that the pay increases were a “small increase compared to inflation,” an increase “to match current starting wages,” and that “nurses need to be paid more.”
29% of Nurses Have a Second Form of Income
Interestingly, 29% of nurses reported supplementing their pay with a secondary form of income.
The most popular secondary sources of income were working per diem (26%), a non-nursing “side hustle” (20%), and working overtime (19%).
Nurses with higher levels of education were more likely to have a secondary source of income. Of the nurses who said they had a second source of income,
- 48% had a doctoral degree
- 37% had a master’s degree
- 28% with a Bachelor’s degree
- 26% with an Associate degree.
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6. Nurses Believe the Nursing Shortage is Getting Worse
One thing is clearer than ever: the nursing shortage continues to be a problem. 84% of nurses think the shortage is getting worse. While this number has dropped from 2022, when 91% reported it was getting worse, it doesn't change the fact that an overwhelming majority feel their units are understaffed and even violate safe staffing ratios.
There are many reasons why there continues to be a shortage of nurses, but nurses said that the top reasons for the nursing shortage were:
- Nurses are burnt out - 66%
- Poor working conditions - 55%
- Inadequate pay for nurses - 51%
According to one respondent, “The shortage is not due to a lack of nurses. It’s due to nurses being fed up with current conditions.”
Staffing Remains a Major Issue
Staffing levels have improved, but only marginally; 33% of nurses reported adequate staffing in 2023, compared to 14% in 2022 and 15% in 2021.
Staffing varied greatly by specialty, with long-term care nurses, critical care nurses, and emergency nurses most often reporting “disagree” on whether or not they were adequately staffed.
It’s not surprising that these specialties continue to be understaffed. They are often reported to see the greatest turnover and burnout because of high patient acuity and the fast-paced nature of the unit.
Improved Staffing Ratios, Better Pay, and Better Working Conditions Are the Top Factors Nurses Believe Would Impact the Nursing Shortage
The nursing shortage can be blamed on many things, but nurses feel that improving the following would help retain seasoned nurses and recruit new ones:
- Improved staffing ratios - 65%
- Better pay - 55%
- Better working conditions - 43%
- Better relationship/treatment by hospital administration - 37%
- More support staff for nurses - 35%
The Future of Nursing
It’s unclear if things will continue to improve for the nursing profession, but this year's State of Nursing survey is reassuring.
Nurses, for the most part, continue to be one of the most overworked and underpaid professions, but that doesn’t mean it can’t change. Nurses reported positive changes in pay, workplace conditions, and job satisfaction in 2023 compared to the previous two years.
Nurses are rediscovering their passion and love for the profession. They are also discovering that side hustles are very real and can earn them a substantial income. This could potentially impact the number of bedside nurses as more leave the “traditional nursing role” for jobs such as nurse writer or nurse influencer. Only time will tell.
>> Download the 2024 State of Nursing Report
