Nurse Survey Review
Executive Summary
This report summarizes the responses to the Wisconsin State 2022 Registered Nurse and 2023 Licensed Practical Nurse surveys administered by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) as a requirement for license renewal. Per Wisconsin Statute 106.30, the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) conducts a census of nurses to support policymakers in evaluating the supply of, demand for, and turnover among nurses in this state and in determining whether there are any regional shortages of nurses, shortages of nurses in any specialty areas, or impediments to entering the nursing profession in this state.
RN Details
96,248 Registered Nurses (RN) completed the survey. There are 96,119 online surveys and 129 answered on paper.
- After eliminating incomplete and unusable surveys, the final sample included 87,100 RN surveys.
- Of the remaining usable surveys, 76,566 (87.90%) are employed as RNs and 1,105 (1.17%) are unemployed or are not currently working but are actively looking for work in nursing.
- 54,193 (71.46%) of the sample has not changed their employment positions in the past year. For those who have changed, the most common reason is dissatisfaction with previous position.
- Half of the RN sample list bachelor's degree in nursing or a related field as their highest level of education, specifically 43,953 (50.53%). 25,375 (29.17%) have an associate degree in nursing or a related field.
- Among Advanced Practice Nurses (APRN), 7,298 (91.27%) are Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers (APNP), and 6,506 (81.37%) are Nurse Practitioners (NP).
LPN Details
8,127 Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) responded to the survey. All responded online since the paper version was discontinued.
- After eliminating incomplete and unusable surveys, the final sample includes 7,845 LPN surveys.
- Of the usable surveys, 7,065 (90.05%) are employed as LPN and 180 (2.29%) are unemployed or are not currently working but are actively looking for work in nursing.
- 4,952 (70.21%) of the sample has not changed their employment positions in the past year. For those who have changed, the most common reason is salary/medical or retirement benefits.
- Most LPNs have as their highest level of education a diploma in nursing or vocational nursing 6,835 (88.84%). 566 (7.36%) have an associate degree in nursing or related field.
Highlights
Overall, the nurse workforce population is not as diverse as the Wisconsin population at large.
- The nurse workforce is female dominated with 91.64% of RNs and 93.79% of LPNs identifying as women. Based on 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data, 47.34% of the Wisconsin workforce population is female.
- Both RNs and LPNs are older than the population overall. The RN workforce is 46 years old on average, while LPNs are 48 years old on average. Based on the ACS data, the Wisconsin workforce averages 44 years in age.
- LPNs are racially and ethnically more diverse than RNs. Among survey respondents, 85.15% of LPNs are White, and 7.55% are Hispanic, Latino or Latinx. Meanwhile, 93.43% of RNs are White, and 2.55% are Hispanic, Latino or Latinx. In comparison, the ACS for Wisconsin reports the population as 86.27% White and 6.12% Hispanic, Latino or Latinx.
- Most RNs work in hospitals (50.37%), while 24.45% work in ambulatory care. The majority of APRNs work in ambulatory care (48.03%), while fewer work in hospitals (36.67%). The most common principal place of work for LPNs is extended care facilities (37.34%), followed by the ambulatory care setting (27.88%).
- Almost half of the sample (47.76%) of RNs and 26.86% of LPNs report their overall personal health (physical or mental) to be worse or much worse overall compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 7.99% of RNs and 10.71% of LPNs report their overall perssonal health to be better than before COVID-19. Another 44.25% of RNs and 62.43% of LPNs indicate their health is about the same as before the pandemic. The proportion of RNs and LPNs who report their health is worse or much worse than before pandemic is higher for younger age groups
Introduction & Survey Methods
Nurses are critical providers for patient care. In 2022 there were more than 3 million nurses working in the U.S.- the single largest category of health care professionals. Over the past 20 years, the Registered Nurse (RN) workforce has faced the challenges of a national nursing shortage, three recessions, and new healthcare reforms. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic increased the longstanding issues of burnout and stress among the U.S. nursing workforce, renewing concerns of projected staffing shortages (Martin et al, 2023). However, there has been an effort by different public and private institutions to increase interest in nursing careers, resulting in a considerable rise in the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing since 2003 (Buerhaus et al, 2017). For instance, in Wisconsin, the number of graduates taking the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the first time increased from 1,795 in 2003 to 4,279 in 2022. Further, RN employment also increased over the past 10 years, and it is projected to continue to increase in the next 10 years.
The State of Wisconsin is concerned with both the supply of and demand for nurses; and the means to continue providing quality health care. Since 2010, in accordance with Wisconsin State Statute 106.30, the Wisconsin legislature has mandated a survey of RNs each even-numbered year and a survey of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) workforce each odd-numbered year to determine the characteristics of the nurses licensed in the state as part of their license renewal process.
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) collects the results of the survey every two years to offer information on demographic characteristics, employment, education, and growth of the nursing workforce in Wisconsin. Since 2010, parallel to this legislative report, DWD also produces the RN supply and demand forecast every two years.
The last update for the period of 2020-2040 forecasts a flat supply and rapidly increasing demand of RNs. A 33% gap (22,900 RNs) shortfall is expected by 2040. In addition, the Wisconsin Center for Nursing (WCN) conducts an in-depth analysis on the data gathered from the surveys.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is responsible for the licensing of health care providers in Wisconsin. As part of the licensing and license renewal process, RNs and LPNs must complete the Nursing Workforce Survey. The survey gathers data on nurses who live and/or work in Wisconsin. Information from the survey is divided into different sections: 1) Licensing, Education and Training; 2) Impact of COVID-19; 3) Current Employment Status; 4) Nursing Specialization Information; 5) Advance Practice Nursing (only for the RN survey), and 6) Demographics. Section 2 is a new section to reveal how the nursing workforce is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2022 Registered Nurses survey includes 96,248 completed surveys. After eliminating incomplete and unusable observations, the final RN sample includes 87,100 surveys. The 2023 Licensed Practical Nurses survey includes 8,127 surveys. After removing incomplete and unusable data, the final sample includes 7,845 surveys.
Summary
The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the key information collected in the 2022 RN and 2023 LPN surveys. The data provided in these surveys alone cannot predict the extent of a possible shortage of nurses across Wisconsin; it is just a description of all RN and LPN responses to the survey. Additional research is currently being undertaken by the Office of Economic Advisors (OEA) at DWD regarding demand for and supply of RNs. Further analysis of past and future surveys along with additional factors that influence the labor market may provide insight into the supply, demand, and potential shortage of nurses in Wisconsin.
If you have questions about this report or need more detailed information about the surveys, please contact:
María del Pilar Casal, PhD
Research Analyst Senior
(608) 733-3859
Licensing & Employment
Most of the tables in this report are based on the final clean sample, which includes 87,100 RNs and 7,845 LPNs working and/or living in Wisconsin. The sample sizes for some tables could be different due to missing data or the nature of the question.
The chart below displays frequency and percentages for questions about employment status and factors related to employment changes. Considering current employment status, 87.90% of RNs, and 90.05% of LPNs are employed. Of those employed, most of them work in the nursing field: 83.98% of RNs and 82.46% of LPNs. Another 1.17% of RNs and 2.29% of LPNs are not employed but are seeking work in nursing, while 8.20% of RNs and 5.30% of LPNs are retired.
Additionally, 71.46% of the RN sample and 70.21% of the LPN sample answer no change in employment status in the past year. For RNs, 12.28% report a new position with the same employer, 12.24% report a new position with a different employer, and 4.01% report the same position with a different employer. For LPNs, 9.26% report a new position with the same employer, 13.98% report a new position with a different employer, and 6.55% report the same position with a different employer. In total, 51.34% of RNs and 15.44% of LPNs have worked about the same hours as the prior year. Only 9.64% of RNs and 62.03% of LPNs indicated that they worked fewer hours than the previous year, while 39.02% of RN and 22.53% of LPN worked more hours than the previous year in a typical week.
The most common reasons RNs change their positions are dissatisfaction with the prior position (17.86%) followed by promotions and career advancement (13.17%) and Salary/medical or retirement benefits (9.22%). For LPNs, the top reasons are salary/medical or retirement benefits (12.89%), childcare responsibilities (11.48%) and Relocation/moved to a different area (9.02%).
A total of 70,989 (97.05%) of the RNs and 4,054 (97.03%) of LPNs report they work as a nurse in Wisconsin (See Table 2). Of those working in Wisconsin, 85.46% of the RNs and 93.19% of the LPNs provide direct patient care. Direct patient care (DPC) is defined as, “Administering nursing care one-on-one to patients, the ill, the disabled, or clients, in the hospital, clinic or other patient care setting.” Examples include providing treatments, counseling, patient education or administering medication.
Of those surveyed, 37.84% of RNs and 50.9% of LPNs have had their license for less than 10 years.
Demographics & Education
Overall, the nursing survey population is not as diverse as the labor force in Wisconsin. The RN and LPN workforce continue to be dominated by women who represent 91.64% of RNs and 93.79% of LPNs. Females represent 47.34% of the Wisconsin labor force.
Both the RN and LPN survey populations are generally older than the Wisconsin labor force at large. The average age of the RN workforce is 46 years, and the median age is 44 years. The average and median age of the LPN workforce is 48 years. In comparison, the American Community Survey 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates for Wisconsin reports an average and median age of 44 years. In general, the RN population is younger than the LPN population. Table 3 shows 26.27% of RNs are between 30 and 40 years old, compared to 20.20% of LPNs. Considering the baby boomer population (born between 1946 and 1964), 29.30% of RNs and 35.55% of LPNs are between 55 and 75 years of age. As the large number of RNs born in the baby boom generation aged, the percentage of the older population increased in the nursing field. This reality, plus the aging population, has significant implications for workforce planning. Note that only the nurses renewing their licenses are required to complete the survey, and this could explain in part the disparity between the Wisconsin and nursing percentage of the labor force of RNs and LPNs under the age of 25.
In general, there is a lack of diversity in the nursing labor force. LPNs are racially and ethnically more diverse than RNs. Table 3 shows 85.15% of LPNs as White and 7.55% as Hispanic, Latino or Latinx; 93.43% of RNs are White and 2.55% are Hispanic, Latino or Latinx. Compared to the total Wisconsin labor force, there is less diversity, especially with the RN group since 86.27% are White and 6.12% are Hispanic, Latino or Latinx for Wisconsin altogether. Most of the nursing workforce resides in Wisconsin (97.23% of RNs and 96.90% of LPNs).
Although 93.47% of RNs and 84.30% of LPNs only speak English, a wide range of languages are spoken. The main second language in the nursing workforce is Spanish; the proportion of Spanish speaking nurses is 2.77% for RN and 7.24% for LPN.
Education and ongoing training are critical predictive metrics for RNs and LPNs to provide quality health care in a wide range of settings and situations. The education requirements for RNs and LPNs differ. Most RNs must have at least an associate degree, while LPNs only need to complete a non-degree program. Therefore, most LPNs (88.84%) have less than an associate degree while the opposite is true for RNs. Over the past 10 years the educational attainment of the RN workforce in WI has increased. In 2010, 88% of the RN sample had an associate degree or higher versus 97% in 2022. Specifically, in 2022, 29.17% have an associate degree, 50.53% a bachelor's degree, 15.34% a master's degree, and 2.07% a doctorate degree.
Currently, 79.78% of RNs and 67.44% of LPNs report no plans for future nursing education. Another 17.14% of RNs and 20.28% of LPNs plan to further their education within the next two years. Additionally, 9.07% of the RNs and 12.29% of the LPNs are currently pursuing additional studies. Explicitly, the main challenge for RNs is cost of tuition and materials (37.92%), followed by family/personal reasons (26.10%). LPNs' greatest challenge is cost of lost work time and benefits (30.61%), followed by scheduling of educational programs offered (19.25%).
| Education and Training of Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses | RN | %RN | LPN | %LPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Highest Nursing or Related Field Degree) | 86983 | 100 | 7694 | 100 |
| Diploma in Nursing or Vocational Nursing | 2512 | 2.89 | 6835 | 88.84 |
| Associate Degree | 25375 | 29.17 | 566 | 7.36 |
| Bachelor Degree | 43953 | 50.53 | 246 | 3.2 |
| Master Degree | 1334 | 15.34 | 43 | 0.56 |
| Doctorate | 1803 | 2.07 | 4 | 0.05 |
| Plans for Future Education | 87100 | 100 | 7845 | 100 |
| No plans | 64265 | 73.78 | 5291 | 67.44 |
| Enrolled in a Associate Program | 2911 | 3.34 | 767 | 9.78 |
| Enrolled in a BSN program | 2642 | 3.03 | 155 | 1.98 |
| Enrolled in a MSN program | 348 | 0.4 | ||
| Enrolled in a Master's degree program in a related health field | 1134 | 1.3 | ||
| Enrolled in a DNP program | 9 | 0.1 | ||
| Enrolled in a Nursing PhD program | 4 | 0.05 | 100 | 0.13 |
| Enrolled in a non-degree certification program | 737 | 0.85 | 31 | 0.4 |
| Plan to pursue further education in the next two years | 14933 | 17.14 | 1591 | 20.28 |
| Challenges to further education (select top two) * | 87100 | 100 | 7845 | 100 |
| Cost of tuition, materials, books, etc | 33024 | 37.92 | 1302 | 16.6 |
| Family/personal reasons | 22734 | 26.1 | 19 | 2.42 |
| Cost of lost work time and benefits | 18451 | 21.18 | 2401 | 30.61 |
| Lack of flexibility in work schedule | 8117 | 9.32 | ||
| Scheduling of educational programs offered | 1591 | 1.83 | 151 | 19.25 |
| Commuting distance to education program | 1022 | 1.17 | 93 | 11.85 |
| Limited access to online learning | 563 | 0.65 | 221 | 2.82 |
| Other | 3283 | 3.77 | 274 | 3.49 |
| None | 1146 | 13.16 | 288 | 3.67 |
| No plans to pursue higher education | 29061 | 33.37 | 2205 | 28.11 |
| *Totals greater than 100% due to multiple choices. Calculated as % of respondents. |
The chart shows the relationship between the education and age of RNs.
The RNs' figure shows increased educational attainment for younger RNs. The older the RNs, the higher the percentage with a nursing diploma. Those in the middle age range (35 to 60 years old) have a higher proportion of associate degrees. A bachelor's degree is the norm in the younger age range. The proportion of RNs with master's and PhD's in nursing, or a related field, is uniform across the different age groups.
The LPNs' figure shows a u-shape for the percentage of LPNs with a nursing diploma, with the higher percentage in the case of younger than 25 and older than 65. Those LPNs in the middle age range (25 to 60 years old) have a higher proportion of associate degrees. The proportion of those with bachelor's, master's, and PhD's in nursing or related field is uniform across the different age groups of LPNs.
Work & Specialization
The following charts display information about specialized knowledge or experience; primary work setting; and telehealth and remote work at their primary place of employment.
The tables below indicate the clinical areas in which RNs and LPNs have specialized knowledge and/or experience of two or more years. For RNs, Acute Care/Critical Care/Intensive Care (29.27%) leads the way, followed by Medical-Surgical (27.10%); Adult Health (18.59%); Geriatrics/Gerontology (15.94%), and Surgery/Pre-op/Post-op/PACU (15.05%). For LPNs, the largest share is in Geriatrics/Gerontology (42.13%), followed by Adult Health (20.23%); Hospice Care/Palliative Care (17.59%); Family Health (16.69%); and Home Health (14.09%).
| RN Specialized Knowledge or Two or more years' experience | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Total RN | 87100 | 100 |
| Acute Care / Critical Care / Intensive Care | 25494 | 29.27 |
| Medical - Surgical | 23602 | 27.1 |
| Adult Health | 16196 | 18.59 |
| Geriatrics / Gerontology | 13885 | 15.94 |
| Surgery / Pre-op / Post-op / PACU | 13111 | 15.05 |
| Cardiac Care | 12558 | 14.42 |
| Emergency / Trauma | 10945 | 12.57 |
| Hospice Care / Palliative Care | 9275 | 10.65 |
| Home health | 7969 | 9.15 |
| Pediatrics | 7847 | 9.01 |
| Family Health | 6852 | 7.87 |
| None | 6552 | 7.52 |
| Psychiatric / Mental Health | 6318 | 7.25 |
| Oncology | 5945 | 6.83 |
| Labor and Delivery | 5584 | 6.41 |
| Community Health | 5308 | 6.09 |
| Obstetrics / Gynecology | 5286 | 6.07 |
| Maternal-Child Health | 5044 | 5.79 |
| Women's Health | 4885 | 5.61 |
| Rehabilitation | 4749 | 5.45 |
| Neonatal Care | 4014 | 4.61 |
| Addiction / AODA / Substance Abuse | 3695 | 4.24 |
| Public Health | 3248 | 3.73 |
| Dialysis / Renal | 3173 | 3.64 |
| Respiratory Care | 2911 | 3.34 |
| Occupational Health / Employee Health | 2121 | 2.44 |
| Anesthesia | 2078 | 2.39 |
| School Health (K-12 or post-secondary) | 1948 | 2.24 |
| Corrections | 1763 | 2.02 |
| Nephrology | 1395 | 1.6 |
| Parish/Faith Community | 503 | 0.58 |
| Other, not listed | 11111 | 12.76 |
| LPN Specialized Knowledge or Two or more years' experience | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Total LPN | 7845 | 100 |
| Geriatrics/Gerontology | 3305 | 42.13 |
| Adult Health | 1587 | 20.23 |
| Hospice Care/Palliative Care | 1380 | 17.59 |
| Family Health | 1309 | 16.69 |
| Home Health | 1105 | 14.09 |
| Rehabilitation | 1031 | 13.14 |
| Medical - Surgical | 760 | 9.69 |
| Pediatrics | 687 | 8.76 |
| Psychiatric / Mental Health | 606 | 7.72 |
| Acute Care/Critical Care/Intensive | 577 | 7.36 |
| Corrections | 433 | 5.52 |
| Addiction/AODA/Substance Abuse | 412 | 5.25 |
| Women's Health | 400 | 5.1 |
| Community Health | 392 | 5 |
| Obstetrics/Gynecology | 365 | 4.65 |
| Cardiac Care | 359 | 4.58 |
| Respiratory Care | 328 | 4.18 |
| Emergency/Trauma | 291 | 3.71 |
| Occupational Health/Employee | 261 | 3.33 |
| Surgery/Pre-op/Post-op/PACU | 261 | 3.33 |
| School Health (K-12 or post-secondary) | 243 | 3.1 |
| Oncology | 215 | 2.74 |
| Dialysis/Renal | 189 | 2.41 |
| Public Health | 170 | 2.17 |
| Maternal-Child Health | 145 | 1.85 |
| Labor and Delivery | 117 | 1.49 |
| Nephrology | 65 | 0.83 |
| Neonatal Care | 49 | 0.62 |
| Anesthesia | 15 | 0.19 |
| None | 1183 | 15.08 |
| Other, not listed | 1104 | 14.07 |
The tables below show the specialties in which RNs and LPNs hold current national board certifications. 28.54% of RNs and 26.65% of LPNs report that they are board certified in a medical specialty. The top specialty areas for RNs are Family Health, Acute Care/Critical Care, MedicalSurgical Nursing and Oncology Nursing (OCN ®, CPON ®, CBCN, AOCNP ®, AOCNS ®). The top national board certifications for LPNs are IV Certification, Geriatrics/ Gerontology, Emergency Medicine, and Wound Care.
| RN Top Medical Certifications | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Total RN | 87100 | 100 |
| Not certified | 62242 | 71.46 |
| Family Health | 2430 | 2.79 |
| Acute Care/Critical Care | 2314 | 2.66 |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing | 1588 | 1.82 |
| Oncology Nursing (OCN ®, CPON ®, CBCN, AOCNP ®, AOCNS ®) | 1283 | 1.47 |
| Emergency Nursing (CEN ®, CFRN ®) | 1012 | 1.16 |
| Adult Health | 949 | 1.09 |
| Anesthesia (CRNA) | 932 | 1.07 |
| OBGYN - Womens Health Care | 928 | 1.07 |
| Pediatric Nursing | 925 | 1.06 |
| Wound/Ostomy Nursing (CWOCN, CWCN, COCN, CCCN, CWON) | 924 | 1.06 |
| Peri-Operative (CNOR ®) | 719 | 0.83 |
| Gerontological Nursing | 689 | 0.79 |
| Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing | 660 | 0.76 |
| General Nursing Practice | 635 | 0.73 |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing (CMSRN ®) | 543 | 0.62 |
| Nursing Case Management | 511 | 0.59 |
| Neonatal | 509 | 0.58 |
| Cardiac-Vascular Nursing | 436 | 0.5 |
| Hospice and Palliative Nursing (CHPN ®, ACHPN ®) | 431 | 0.49 |
| Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing-Advanced (APMHN) | 298 | 0.34 |
| Nurse Educator (CNE) | 236 | 0.27 |
| Community Health | 228 | 0.26 |
| Ambulatory Care Nursing | 221 | 0.25 |
| Perianesthesia (CPAN ®, CAPA ®) | 206 | 0.24 |
| Respiratory/Pulmonary Care | 202 | 0.23 |
| Diabetes Management - Advanced | 187 | 0.21 |
| Home Health Nursing | 185 | 0.21 |
| Public/Community Health | 180 | 0.21 |
| Orthopedic Nursing (ONC ®) | 174 | 0.2 |
| Rehabilitation (CRRN ®) | 170 | 0.2 |
| Perinatal Nursing | 159 | 0.18 |
| School Nursing | 154 | 0.18 |
| Transplant | 144 | 0.17 |
| Parish Nurse | 136 | 0.16 |
| Occupational Health (COHN) | 128 | 0.15 |
| Pain Management | 126 | 0.14 |
| Neurology (CNRN) | 124 | 0.14 |
| Nursing Professional Development | 122 | 0.14 |
| Nurse Executive (CENP) | 117 | 0.13 |
| Nurse Executive - Advanced | 112 | 0.13 |
| Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) | 90 | 0.1 |
| Gastroenterology (CGRN) | 89 | 0.1 |
| Nephrology (CNN, CDN) | 76 | 0.09 |
| Informatics Nursing | 73 | 0.08 |
| High-Risk Perinatal Nursing | 71 | 0.08 |
| Infusion Nursing (CRNI) | 62 | 0.07 |
| School Nursing (NCSN ®) | 58 | 0.07 |
| Legal Nurse Consultant (LNCC ®) | 55 | 0.06 |
| Cardiac Rehabilitation Nursing | 47 | 0.05 |
| Radiology/Invasive Procedures Lab | 46 | 0.05 |
| Family Planning | 33 | 0.04 |
| Domestic Violence/Abuse Response | 31 | 0.04 |
| College Health Nursing | 20 | 0.02 |
| Public Health Nursing-Advanced (APHN) | 12 | 0.01 |
| Addiction/AODA | - | - |
| Case Management Nursing | - | - |
| Other certification, not listed | 4,526 | 5.2 |
| *Totals greater than 100% due to multiple choices. Calculated as % of respondents. |
| LPN Top Medical Certifications | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Total LPN | 7845 | 100 |
| Not certified | 5754 | 73.35 |
| IV Certification | 1052 | 13.41 |
| Geriatrics/Gerontology | 343 | 4.37 |
| Emergency Medicine | 323 | 4.12 |
| Wound Care Certification | 204 | 2.60 |
| Mental Health Nursing | 124 | 1.58 |
| Certified Hospice and Palliative | 52 | 0.66 |
| Cardiac-Vascular Nursing | 24 | 0.31 |
| Certified Hemodialysis Nurse | 18 | 0.23 |
| Other | 508 | 6.48 |
| *Totals greater than 100% due to multiple choices. Calculated as % of respondents. |
The pie charts below provide a summary of the primary work setting of RN and LPN survey respondents. Primary work refers to the place where they work the most hours, even if this work is unpaid or voluntary. RNs are primarily employed in hospitals (50.37%), followed by ambulatory care (24.45%) and extended care (7.05%). LPNs mainly work in extended care (37.34%), ambulatory care (27.88%), and hospitals (9.38%). Considering the job position or function, most RNs are staff nurses (62.88%), followed by Advanced Practice Nurses (8.81%), nurse managers (7.23%), and case managers (6.60%).
The table below displays information about telehealth and remote work at their primary place of employment. Considering the time spent providing services via phone, 35.34% of RNs never use it, while 31.93% spend less than 25% on the phone, 8.95% spend between 26% and 50%, and 23.79% spend 50% or more of the time providing services via phone. For LPNs, 35.22% never use the phone, 21.26% spend less than 25% of their time via phone, 9.92% between 26% and 50%, and 33.60% spend more than 50% of their time providing services via phone. The most used remote communication by RNs and LPNs is telephone (42.63% and 27.42% respectively), followed by electronic messaging (13.56% and 13.12%), and email (12.10% and 10.30%).
Income
The 2022 RN and 2023 LPN surveys include questions about income. 16.37% of RN annual pre-tax earnings are in the range of $65,001-$75,000, followed by $55,001 - $65,000 (16.18%), and $75,001 - $85,000 (13.59%). Notice that 20.02% of RNs are making more than $95,000, and 24.91% are making less than $55,000 per year. Considering LPNs, 65.03% make in their primary job less than $55,000 per year, followed by $55,001 - $65,000 (15.87%), and $65,001 - $75,000 (8.60%). Only 10.49% of the sample earns $75,000 or more. Considering the compensation in the primary position, 25.61% of RN are full time salaried and 49.49% are full time hourly. In the case of LPN, the majority are full time hourly (61.35%), while 8.79% are full time salaried.
| Income Principal Place of Work | RN | %RN | LPN | %LPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Pre-tax Earnings | 76566 | 100 | 4756 | 100 |
| < $25,000 | 4191 | 5.47 | 668 | 145 |
| $25,001 - $35,000 | 2760 | 3.60 | 559 | 11.75 |
| $35,001 - $45,000 | 4314 | 5.63 | 930 | 19.55 |
| $45,001 - $55,000 | 7820 | 10.21 | 936 | 19.68 |
| $55,001 - $65,000 | 12388 | 16.18 | 755 | 15.87 |
| $65,001 - $75,000 | 12536 | 16.37 | 409 | 8.60 |
| $75,001 - $85,000 | 10405 | 13.59 | 226 | 4.75 |
| $85,001 - $95,000 | 6828 | 8.92 | 123 | 2.59 |
| $95,001 - $105,000 | 5519 | 7.21 | 70 | 1.47 |
| $105,001 - $115,000 | 3344 | 4.37 | 34 | 0.71 |
| $115,001 - $125,000 | 2084 | 2.72 | 18 | 0.38 |
| $125,001 - $135,000 | 1253 | 1.64 | 9 | 0.19 |
| $135,001 - $145,000 | 682 | 0.89 | 6 | 0.13 |
| $145,001 - $155,000 | 437 | 0.57 | 3 | 06 |
| > $155,000 | 2005 | 2.62 | 10 | 0.21 |
| Compensation in Primary position | 76566 | 100 | 4756 | 100 |
| Full time, salaried | 19611 | 25.61 | 418 | 8.79 |
| Full time, hourly wage | 37893 | 49.49 | 2918 | 61.35 |
| Part time, salaried | 1691 | 2.21 | 38 | 0.80 |
| Part time, hourly wage | 14135 | 18.46 | 996 | 20.94 |
| Per diem | 3031 | 3.96 | 326 | 6.85 |
| Volunteer | 205 | 0.27 | 60 | 1.26 |
The following figures show annual pre-tax earnings at their primary workplace by gender identity for RN and LPN.
For RNs, almost half of females (46.57%) are in the middle earning range making between $55,000 and $85,000, 25.86% are earning less than $55,000; and 27.57% are making more than $85,000. In the case of males, more of them earn above $85,000 (43.77%), 41.47% of males are in the middle range of $55,000 - $85,000, and only 14.76% are making less than $55,000. Considering nonbinary identity, 46.08% of them are in the middle earning range making between $55,000 and $85,000; 27.45% are making less than $55,000, and 26.47% are making more than $85,000. For the case of RNs, we can see a gender gap in favor of male over female and non-binary.
For LPNs, independent of gender identity, a majority of LPNs are making less than $55,000. Specifically for female, 65.96% are earning less than $55,000; 28.79% are earning between $55,000 and $85,000; and only 5.25% are making more than $85,000. For males, most of them are in the lower earning range (50.52%), with 36.77% earning between $55,000 and $85,000; and only 12.71% are making more than $85,000. Considering nonbinary identity, almost all are making less than $55,000 (75%), 8.33% are in the middle earning range making between $55,000 and $85,000, and 16.67% are making more than $85,000.
These figures illustrate annual pre-tax earnings at their primary workplace by education for RN and LPN.
As expected in the case of RNs, the lower the educational degree, the higher the proportion of RNs in the lower income range, and the lower the percentage in the higher income range. As the income range increases, a higher proportion of RNs have either a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree. Specifically, almost 60% of RNs making more than $85,000 hold at least a bachelor's degree.
For LPNs, the lower the educational degree, the higher the proportion of nurses in the lower income ranges, and the lower the percentage in the higher income ranges. As the income range increases, a higher proportion of LPNs have either an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree.
COVID-19 Pandemic
This is a new section in the report related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 RN and 2023 LPN surveys include new questions related to employment and overall personal health during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is well known that the pandemic increased long-standing issues about stress and burnout among the nursing workforce, growing concerns about projected staffing shortages.
Most of the RNs & LPNs report receiving training about COVID-19 through their employer 82.91%, and 85.10% respectively. Another 11.85% of RNs and 8.63% of LPNs report receiving no training. The most frequent source of information about COVID-19 is Employer (69.97% of RNs, and 65.48% of LPNs), followed by the CDC website (68.63% of RNs, and 54.77% of LPNs).
Considering the whole sample, 67.20% of RNs, and 73.91% of LPNs provide direct patient care (DPC) to people with COVID-19. The most frequent setting in which nurses provide DPC to infected people are for RNs Hospital Inpatient Unit (24.22%), Hospital Emergency/Unit Care (14.17%), and Hospital Several Units (12.15%). For LPNs: Skilled Nursing facility (45.79%), Medical Practice Clinic (20.89%), and Assisted Living Facility (CBRF) (6.69%).
| Covid-19 pandemic and Nurses' response | RN | %RN | LPN | %LPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training on COVID-19* | 87100 | 100 | 7845 | 100 |
| Received training from Employer | 72211 | 82.91 | 6676 | 85.1 |
| Received training from other entity | 4722 | 5.42 | 354 | 4.51 |
| Received training from governmental entity | 2980 | 3.42 | 138 | 1.76 |
| Received no training | 10319 | 11.85 | 677 | 8.63 |
| Sources of information about COVID-19* | 87100 | 100 | 7845 | 100 |
| Employer | 60941 | 69.97 | 5137 | 65.48 |
| CDC website | 59781 | 68.63 | 4297 | 54.77 |
| Government Agency websites | 30293 | 34.78 | 2077 | 26.48 |
| TV | 23768 | 27.29 | 2111 | 26.91 |
| Professional Associations | 22108 | 25.38 | 1013 | 12.91 |
| Social Media | 12464 | 14.31 | 1178 | 15.02 |
| Newspaper | 11147 | 12.8 | 849 | 10.82 |
| Radio | 9238 | 10.61 | 852 | 10.86 |
| Other | 8100 | 9.3 | 708 | 9.02 |
| Provided direct patient care (DPC) to people with COVID-19 | 87100 | 100 | 7845 | 100 |
| Yes | 58535 | 67.2 | 5798 | 73.91 |
| No | 28565 | 32.8 | 2047 | 26.09 |
| Primary setting for DPC for COVID-19 | 58535 | 100 | 5798 | 100 |
| Academic Educational Institution (college or university) | 142 | 0.24 | 6 | 0.1 |
| Adult Family Home | 284 | 0.49 | 49 | 0.85 |
| Assisted Living Facility (CBRF) | 803 | 1.37 | 388 | 6.69 |
| Assisted Living Facility (RCAC) | 273 | 0.47 | 100 | 1.72 |
| Correctional Facility | 638 | 1.09 | 165 | 2.85 |
| Home Health Agency | 2222 | 3.8 | 170 | 2.93 |
| Hospice facility | 689 | 1.18 | 65 | 1.12 |
| Hospital, 24-hour Inpatient Unit | 14180 | 24.22 | 242 | 4.17 |
| Hospital, Emergency/Urgent Care | 8294 | 14.17 | 218 | 3.76 |
| Hospital, in several hospital units | 7111 | 12.15 | 173 | 2.98 |
| Hospital, Intensive Care | 6460 | 11.04 | 38 | 0.66 |
| Hospital, Obstetrics | 2980 | 5.09 | 21 | 0.36 |
| Intermediate Care Facility of the Intellectually Disabled (ICFID) | 110 | 0.19 | 18 | 0.31 |
| Medical Practice clinic, Physician Office | 5848 | 9.99 | 1211 | 20.89 |
| Outpatient Mental Health | 397 | 0.68 | 27 | 0.47 |
| Parish Nurse Services | 36 | 0.06 | 2 | 0.03 |
| School Health Services (K12, college, and university) | 624 | 1.07 | 77 | 1.33 |
| Skilled Nursing facility | 4676 | 7.99 | 2655 | 45.79 |
| Surgery Center, Dialysis Center | 1777 | 3.04 | 30 | 0.52 |
| Technical or Community College | 70 | 0.12 | 12 | 0.21 |
| Urgent Care, not Hospital based | 921 | 1.57 | 131 | 2.26 |
| Overall personal (physical or mental) health | 87100 | 100 | 7845 | 100 |
| Better than before the pandemic | 6962 | 7.99 | 840 | 10.71 |
| About the same as before the pandemic | 38541 | 44.25 | 4898 | 62.43 |
| Worse than before the pandemic | 33527 | 38.49 | 1812 | 23.1 |
| Much worse than before the pandemic | 8070 | 9.27 | 295 | 3.76 |
| *Totals greater than 100% due to multiple choices. Calculated as % of respondents. |
Almost half of the sample of RNs (47.76%) and 26.86% of LPNs report to be worse or much worse than before the pandemic. Only 7.99% of RNs and 10.71% of LPNs report to be better than before COVID -19. Another 44.25% of RNs, and 62.43% of LPNs indicate their health is about the same as before the pandemic. The statistics suggest the pandemic has exacerbated the longstanding concerns over a nursing shortage and the impact that has on nurses' overall health.
In the case of RNs, the younger the nurses, the higher the proportion of RNs identifying themselves as worse or much worse than before the pandemic. As the age range increases, a higher proportion of RNs feel their health is about the same or better than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, more than 50% of RNs in age groups younger than 50 years old report being worse or much worse, and 80% of RNs older than 65 years old report feeling about the same or better than before the pandemic. For LPNs, feeling "about the same" is the norm and the percent increases with age. As the income range increases, a lower proportion of LPNs feels worse or much worse than before the pandemic.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
The RN survey also provides data about advanced practice registered nurses (APRN). Wisconsin Chapter N8 of the Board of Nursing offers both a definition of APRN and the certification of a specific subset of advanced practice nurses, the advanced practice nurse prescriber (APNP).
Specifically, the definitions require the advanced practice nurse: 1) have a current license to practice in Wisconsin or another state covered by a licensure compact; 2) hold a certification as a nurse-midwife, certified nurse anesthetist, or a clinical nurse specialist and; 3) hold a Master's degree in nursing or a related health field. Advance practice nurses receiving certification in any of the fields listed prior to July 1, 1998 are not required to hold a master's degree. An APNP must meet the criteria for an APN plus have at least 45 contract hours in clinical pharmacology/therapeutics and have passed a jurisprudence examination for APNPs.
There are 6,884 (94.33%) APRNs who work in Wisconsin and 414 (5.67%) who work outside Wisconsin with at least one national board certification. The national certifications as an APN defined in the survey are Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). The most common national certification is Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNPs) (91.27%), followed by NP (81.37%), and CRNA (11.87%). Additionally, 6,234 (94.50%) of APRNs work and provide direct patient care (DPC) in WI.
Nurses can have more than one certification. In the case of NPs, the top specialty is Family (55.36%), followed by Adult (18.52%), Gerontological (8.81%), Acute Care (8.13%), and Pediatric (6.32%). For CNSs, the most common specialties are Adult Health (40.30%), Gerontological (16.62%), Acute and Critical Care-Adult (10.08%), and Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health (8.31%).
| Certification and Specialization of Advanced Practice Nurses (APRN) | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| National Board Certification (Check all that apply)* | 7996 | 100 |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | 6506 | 81.37 |
| Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) | 247 | 3.09 |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | 949 | 11.87 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | 397 | 4.96 |
| Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP) | 7298 | 91.27 |
| Works in Wisconsin as APNP | 6884 | 94.33 |
| Works outside of Wisconsin as APNP | 414 | 5.67 |
| Working and Provides Direct Patient Care in WI | 6597 | 100 |
| Yes | 6234 | 94.50 |
| No | 363 | 5.50 |
| Nurse Practitioner Specialty (Check all that apply)* | 6506 | 100 |
| Family Health | 3602 | 55.36 |
| Adult Health | 1205 | 18.52 |
| Gerontological | 573 | 8.81 |
| Acute Care | 529 | 8.13 |
| Pediatric | 411 | 6.32 |
| Family Psychiatric and Mental Health | 242 | 3.72 |
| OB-Gyn / Women's Health Care | 190 | 2.92 |
| Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health | 174 | 2.67 |
| Neonatal | 141 | 2.17 |
| No specialty designation | 104 | 1.60 |
| Emergency Nursing | 40 | 0.61 |
| Diabetes Management | 31 | 0.48 |
| Family Planning | 14 | 0.22 |
| College Health | 7 | 0.11 |
| Clinical Nurse Leader | 7 | 0.11 |
| School | 3 | 0.05 |
| Other Specialty | 304 | 4.67 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialty (Check all that apply)* | 397 | 100 |
| Adult Health | 160 | 40.30 |
| Gerontological | 66 | 16.62 |
| Acute and Critical Care-Adult | 40 | 10.08 |
| Adult Psychiatric & Mental Health | 33 | 8.31 |
| Pediatric | 20 | 5.04 |
| Child & Adolescent Psych & Mental Health | 10 | 2.52 |
| OB-Gyn / Women Health Care | 10 | 2.52 |
| Medical-Surgical | 9 | 2.27 |
| Diabetes Management | 8 | 2.02 |
| Community/Public | 7 | 1.76 |
| Acute and Critical Care-Pediatric | 2 | 0.50 |
| Acute and Critical Care-Neonatal | 2 | 0.50 |
| Palliative Care - Advanced | 2 | 0.50 |
| Home Health | 1 | 0.25 |
| Other Specialty | 40 | 10.08 |
| No specialty designation | 38 | 9.57 |
| *Totals greater than 100% due to multiple choices. Calculated as % of respondents. |
APRN certification by principal place of employment. A combined 84.70% of all APNPs are working in either Ambulatory Care (48.03%) or in Hospitals (36.67%). The remainder are in Extended Care (4.26%), Public Health (2.75%), Education Institutions (2.52%), and Home Health (2.37%). More than 50% of NPs and almost 50% of CNMs are working in Ambulatory Care, followed by Hospitals. CRNAs and CNSs are largely in Hospitals 88.79% and 52.91% respectively, followed by Ambulatory Care.
| APRN Certification by Principal Place of Employment | NP | %NP | CNM | %CNM | CRNA | %CRNA | CNS | %CNS | APNP | %APNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital | 1851 | 29.95 | 84 | 36.84 | 824 | 88.79 | 182 | 52.91 | 2572 | 36.67 |
| Extended Care | 305 | 4.93 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.11 | 6 | 1.74 | 299 | 4.26 |
| Ambulatory Care | 3224 | 52.16 | 105 | 46.05 | 86 | 9.27 | 87 | 25.29 | 3368 | 48.03 |
| Home Health | 170 | 2.75 | 4 | 1.75 | 3 | 0.32 | 5 | 1.45 | 166 | 2.37 |
| Public Health | 190 | 3.07 | 14 | 6.14 | 1 | 0.11 | 9 | 2.62 | 193 | 2.75 |
| Educational Institutions | 195 | 3.15 | 13 | 5.70 | 9 | 0.97 | 32 | 9.30 | 177 | 2.52 |
| Other | 246 | 3.98 | 8 | 3.51 | 4 | 0.43 | 23 | 6.69 | 238 | 3.39 |
| Total | 6181 | 100 | 228 | 100 | 928 | 100 | 344 | 100 | 7013 | 100 |
Reports
Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses complete a survey at each biennial license renewal. The results from these surveys are used to provide extensive reports to the state legislature and to periodically produce long-term supply and demand forecasts.
