New research sheds light on the state of the emergency, trauma and transport nursing workforce.
The analysis was released June 3 by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, MedEvac Foundation International and Society of Trauma Nurses, the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association and the Emergency Nurses Association.
For the analysis, researchers examined certification and membership records, National Nursing Workforce Study data and a custom survey completed by 4,196 nurses to find out more about the characteristics and issues facing emergency, trauma and transport nurses, as well as projected changes to the workforce.
Eight takeaways from the analysis:
1. There are an estimated 167,375 emergency, trauma and transport nurses who provide direct patient care in the U.S., based on National Nursing Workforce Study data. This includes staff nurses and advance practice nurses.
2. The custom survey showed that nearly all respondents (99.7 percent) are registered nurses, and 77.8 percent hold a bachelor's degree in nursing or a higher degree.
3. The custom survey found that 69 percent of respondents felt prepared or very prepared to succeed in their roles, regardless of their ages.
4. Forty percent of custom survey respondents said they want more training on specific equipment or leadership/management skills.
5. While most custom survey respondents said they are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs and work, 39 percent reported that their workload is too heavy or overwhelming.
6. The median annual salary for emergency, trauma and transport nurses working full time is $77,500, based on the custom survey.
7. Eighty percent of the custom survey respondents said they expect a shortage of emergency, trauma and transport nurses in the next five to 10 years.
8. Forty-five percent of custom survey respondents reported that the plan to pursue specialty certification.
Read more about the analysis here.
More articles on workforce:
NYC Health + Hospitals launches its first nurse recruitment campaign
Another round: Massachusetts union tries again on nurse staffing ratios
New York health system has more than 200 nursing openings