AACN Fact Sheet

CONTACT:
Robert J. Rosseter, 202-463-6930, x231 [e-mail] Fact Sheet:
Creating a More Highly Qualified Nursing Workforce
Quality patient care hinges on having a well educated nursing workforce. Research has shown that lower mortality rates, fewer medication errors, and positive outcomes are all linked to nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is committed to working collaboratively to create a more highly qualified nursing workforce since education enhances both clinical competency and care delivery. This fact sheet looks at today’s nursing workforce; highlights research connecting education to outcomes; and outlines the capacity of four-year colleges to enhance the level of nursing education in the U.S.

Snapshot of Today’s Nursing Workforce
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According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis within the Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA), approximately 2.8 million registered nurses (RNs) are currently working in nursing (HRSA, 2013). This count reflects an increase from the last National Sample
Survey of Registered Nurses conducted by HRSA in 2008 which found that 2.6 million RNs were employed in nursing (out of a population of more than 3 million licensed RNs).

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HRSA’s 2013 report, titled The U.S. Nursing Workforce: Trends in Supply and Education, also found that 55% of the RN workforce held a baccalaureate or higher degree. In a separate study conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers in 2013, the percentage of nurses in the U.S. with a baccalaureate or higher degree was 61%.

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Graduates of entry-level nursing programs (baccalaureate degree, associate degree and diploma) sit for the NCLEX-RN© licensing examination. The fact that new nurses pass the licensing exam at the same rate does not mean that all entry-level nurses are equally prepared for practice. The NCLEX

References: Aiken, L. (2014, October). Baccalaureate nurses and hospital outcomes: More evidence. Medical Care, 52(10), 861-863. Aiken, L., Sloane, D.M., et al. (2014, May 24). Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: a retrospective observational study Aiken, L.H., Cheung, R.B. & Olds, D.M. (2009, June 12). Education policy initiatives to address the nurse shortage in the United States Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Sloane, D.M., Lake, E.T. & Cheney, T. (2008, May). Effects of hospital care environment on patient mortality and nurse outcomes Aiken, L.H., Clarke, S.P., Cheung, R.B., Sloane, D.M., & Silber, J.H. (2003, September 24). Educational levels of hospital nurses and surgical patient mortality, Journal of the American Medical Association, 290, 1617-1623. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2013). 2012-2013 Enrollment and graduations in baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing American Organization of Nurse Executives. (2005). Practice and education partnership for the future. Benner, P., Sutphen, M., Leonard, V. & Day, L. (2009). Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation Blegen, M.A., Goode, C.J., Park, S.H., Vaughn, T. & Spetz, J. (2013, February). Baccalaureate education in nursing and patient outcomes Budden, J.S., Zhong, E.H., Moulton, P., & Cimiotti. J.P. (2013, July 13). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing and The Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers 2013 National Workforce Survey Cho, E., Sloane, D.M., Kim, E., Kim, S., Choi, M., Yoo, I.Y, Lee, H.S. & Aiken, L. (2014, August). Friese, C.R, Lake, E.T., Aiken, L.H., Silber, J.H. & Sochalski, J. (2008, August). Hospital nurse practice environments and outcomes for surgical oncology patients Health Resources and Services Administration, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. (2013, April) Institute of Medicine. (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Kutney-Lee, A., Sloane, D.M. & Aiken, L. (2003, March). An increase in the number of nurses with baccalaureate degrees is lnked to lower rates of postsurgery mortality McHugh, M.D., Kelly, L.A., Smith, H.L., Wu, E.S., Vanak, J.M. & Aiken, L.H. (2012, October). Lower Mortality in Magnet Hospitals L.A. (2007, January). Impact of hospital nursing care on 30-day mortality for acute medical patients. Tri-Council for Nursing. (2010, May). Educational advancement of registered nurses: A consensus position Van den Heede, K., Lesaffre, E., Diya, L., Vleugels, A., Clarke, S.P., Aiken, L.H. & Sermeus, W. (2009). Yakusheva, O., Lindrooth, R. & Weiss, M. (2014, October). Economic evaluation of the 80% baccalaureate nurse workforce recommendation: A patient-level analysis Last Update: September 22, 2014