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Job outlook for registered nursing professors in the United States
Are registered nursing professor jobs in demand?
Registered nursing professor job and salary trends over time
Registered nursing professor jobs over time
Registered nursing professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,940 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,741 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,701 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,588 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,584 | 0.00% |
Average registered nursing professor salary over time
Registered nursing professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $139,096 | $66.87 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | $137,492 | $66.10 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $135,447 | $65.12 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $131,337 | $63.14 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $127,411 | $61.26 | +2.4% |
Registered nursing professor jobs by state
Most common states for registered nursing professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,006 | 18% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 123 | 18% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 529 | 17% |
| 4 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 503 | 17% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 946 | 16% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 312 | 16% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 143 | 16% |
| 8 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,299 | 15% |
| 9 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 659 | 15% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 594 | 14% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 474 | 13% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 220 | 13% |
| 13 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,374 | 12% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 261 | 12% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 998 | 11% |
| 16 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 720 | 11% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 118 | 11% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,991 | 10% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 324 | 10% |
| 20 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 310 | 10% |
Registered Nursing Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of registered nursing professor experts
Ashford University
Saint Xavier University
Bethune-Cookman University
Utah Valley University
The University of Rhode Island
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Arizona State University
Oakland University
Southwestern Adventist University
Dixie State University
Spokane Community College
Lakeview College of Nursing
Fabio Lanza
ProfessorAshford University
History
What will help Registered Nursing Professors increase their earning potential?
Fabio Lanza: Difficult to say, given how quickly things change. Digital humanities was and still is fashionable and important. Public history (museum, exhibitions, outreach). And teaching.
What technical skills for a Registered Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Michele Poradzisz Ph.D.: Employers of new nurses typically are more interested in thinking skills rather than technical skills. Nurses must be able to apply critical thinking skills to clinical situations. Nurses are constantly called upon to problem-solve, troubleshoot and make clinical decisions under changing conditions. The faculty of the BSN program at Saint Xavier University have developed a curriculum that focuses on important concepts that apply across the lifespan and health care settings. These concepts cover a spectrum that ranges from physiological to psychological and social. Nursing students learn to apply these concepts in the classroom, lab and clinical practicum through case studies, simulated clinical situations and direct patient care. Through these activities, nursing students learn how to "think like a nurse." They have a foundation to build on as they gain practical experience in the work setting.
Employers also seek nurses who have good assessment skills. Assessment is always the starting point for nursing action and involves specific skills such as listening to heart and lung sounds, but even more importantly, assessment requires skill in therapeutic communication techniques, which are used to determine the patient's history and perceptions of their current health-related problems. In Saint Xavier's BSN program, sophomore students learn basic assessment skills that focus on a holistic approach to assessment and application to people of all ages. Students hone these skills during their clinical practicum and lab experiences in junior and senior years.
Because technology is always changing, nurses must be able to continually adapt to new equipment, computer software, and procedures. Employers know that a new nurse will not be familiar with everything, and therefore orientation to an agency always includes the policies and procedures, equipment, electronic medical record and other computer software programs used in that setting. But characteristics such as flexibility, resiliency, adaptability and compassion are key to the nurse's success. Compassion is one of Saint Xavier's core values, and our curriculum embodies the service-focused mission laid by our Sisters of Mercy so that our nurses are able to provide exemplary care.
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Michele Poradzisz Ph.D.: Salaries for registered nurses have increased slowly, though remain fairly stable over the past couple of years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for RNs in 2020 was $75,330 annually, or just over $36 per hour. Salaries for RNs in Illinois are near the median for the U.S. Nurses with advanced practice licensure, such as nurse practitioners, can make significantly higher salary, with a national average salary of $115,800.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Michele Poradzisz Ph.D.: Nurses have always been respected and trusted, but the pandemic has given the public the chance to see nurses in a new light and appreciate them even more. People have witnessed the dedication that nurses have to their patients and profession. I believe this will motivate more people to want to join this noble profession. According to a 2020 study with The National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers, the average age of registered nurses is currently at 51 years, so we can expect to see a large number of nurses retiring from full-time practice over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 7% growth in the market for RNs from 2019-2029, which is faster than the average growth in any other occupation.
We are seeing an increase in the number of people with degrees in other fields who are attracted to nursing and want to change careers. Accelerated degree programs for non-nursing graduates capitalize on the individual's previous education and experience and fast-track them to a baccalaureate (BSN) or master's (MSN) degree in nursing. For example, Saint Xavier University offers an accelerated BSN program that allows students to complete the nursing program in 15 months. Cohort sizes are kept small (typically 24 students) to allow personalized attention from faculty as well as to promote strong bonds among students.
Aside from the growth in the nursing job market, a big change will be in where nurses practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to bolster public health and community health resources in the U.S. Public health nurses focus on preventive care and provide care in state and local health departments, as well as schools, community clinics and workplaces. The length of stay for patients in hospitals is continually decreasing, and many elective surgeries and procedures are now done in outpatient or ambulatory settings. More and more, hospitals will provide care for the most complex or critically ill patients, while routine care will be centered outside hospitals. In addition, the large increase in numbers of people with chronic diseases points to the need for more nurses in home care and community settings.
Sameh Ghareeb
Assistant ProfessorBethune-Cookman University
L. Gale Lemerand School of Nursing
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Sameh Ghareeb: In nursing, and because of the nursing shortage crisis, hourly payments went up significantly. Some hospitals were willing to pay around $115/hour for travel nurses.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Sameh Ghareeb: Two of the biggest trends in nursing jobs because of the pandemic are overtime hours and the outburst of travel nursing jobs.
The increase of numbers of admitting patients to the hospital has significantly increased the need of nurses. This made hospitals request nurses to work additional shifts, in which many nurses worked 48-60 hrs/wk.
In addition, the need for nurses, pushed hospitals to hire more nurses. But as there is a shortage in nursing, nursing travel agency work outbursts.
What technical skills for a Registered Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Sameh Ghareeb: As hospitals had to hire more nurses, it was a challenge for employers to educate new nurses on the hospitals' documentation systems and hospital policies in a very short period. Orientation for new nurses usually takes at least a week. Because of the pandemic, educators in hospitals had to shorten orientations to be done within 1-2 days, which is a huge challenge.
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Francine Jensen: Salaries are often tied to the region where you work, so think carefully about where you decide to practice. Working night shifts and weekends will net you a dollar or two more an hour. One useful strategy to grow your wage is to regularly change your employment situation and negotiate your starting salary. Additionally, once you are in advanced roles in nursing, your salary will increase, so consider when the best time is to go back to school.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Francine Jensen: When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, nursing educators wondered if the challenges of being on the frontlines as nurses would drive people away from the profession. Luckily, this did not play out. Our admissions pools are as large as ever, and we are attracting people who are now more anxious to be nurses. The pandemic has raised awareness of the roles of nurses and the need for nurses in our country, and this has been good for the profession.
COVID has made us all, including nurses, re-think our priorities. We will see shifts of nurses applying for positions they always wanted; more staff who have been cross-trained to other areas who decide to stay; and other nurses who took this chance to retire. These will drive movement in the profession, which will free up opportunities for other nurses coming in.
We'll also see trends with nurses who are leaving bedside nursing and becoming nurse practitioners, a specialty which continues to grow.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Registered Nursing Professors?
Francine Jensen: At baseline, you'll need your RN licensure to enter the profession. One useful certification some universities are offering is a certificate in gerontology, which gives you focused training on that population-useful as the baby boomer generation continues to age. Over time, you can progress to receive your DNP or nurse anesthetist licensure where you'll take on advanced roles in nursing practice.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Barbara Wolfe Ph.D.: The need for RNs and advanced practice nurses (APRNs) is in great demand. Based on data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of registered nurses (RNs) is expected to increase by 7% and the need for nurse practitioners and other APRNs is expected to increase by 45% in the next eight or so years.
There is a significant need for nursing faculty. Currently there is a national nurse faculty vacancy rate of > 7%. This will, no doubt, increase given the projected swell of retirements by 2025-as much as a third of the current faculty workforce. Thus, we will see an increase need for doctoral education to prepare these individuals for this career path.
What technical skills for a Registered Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Barbara Wolfe Ph.D.: Health care is rapidly changing, and the pandemic has contributed to some of these changes (e.g., the use of telehealth). Employers are looking for nurses who are able to adapt, innovate, and apply not only their technical skills, but also their knowledge and critical thinking to a variety of settings--particularly since most of health care is delivered in non-hospital environments.
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Barbara Wolfe Ph.D.: Clinical salaries have certainly increased over time. While this is good, it has drawn individuals away from a teaching career, which needs to be addressed if we are going to meet the demand for educating future nurses. Thousands of well-qualified applicants will continue to be turned away from nursing programs if this shortage persists.
Abram Brummett Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorOakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Department of Foundational Medical Studies
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Abram Brummett Ph.D.: You may have heard of the "Fauci Effect," which has driven the interest in medical professions up. Applications to OUWB are up since the pandemic, and I suspect that interest in medical fields will go up across the board to include fields such as nursing, physician assistants, occupational therapists, social workers, and my discipline, clinical bioethics. The pandemic has exposed medical professionals as the heroes they always have been and that exposure has been inspiring to others.
What soft skills should all Registered Nursing Professors possess?
Abram Brummett Ph.D.: Teaching soft skills is a really important part of what we do in the medical humanities and clinical bioethics. While we wrestle with difficult ethical dilemmas in contexts such as the end of life, birth, child-rearing, sexuality, and suffering, we also work hard to resist a reductionistic view of patients as a complex set of tubes, pumps, and chemicals that can result from years of medical education. We do this by encouraging a "holistic" approach to patient care that sees a patient situated within a whole matrix of social, psychological, religious, and economic factors that influence the doctor-patient relationship. Soft skills are a vital part of this approach, being able to talk with, earn the trust of, and motivate patients to follow a treatment regimen is just as important as an accurate diagnosis. Medicine remains, and will always be, a science and an art, and we are here to emphasize the art.
Erica Lee
Associate Program Director/ Clinical Assistant Professor- Prelicensure Nursing, Honors FacultyArizona State University
Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Erica Lee: I hope that the biggest trend for new nurses entering the profession will be extended orientation periods. Unfortunately, many student nurses have missed out on inpatient clinical exposure during the pandemic in an effort to limit numbers of individuals entering into facilities. This may affect how confident the new graduate RN's feel in the environment and extra attention to orientation could help.
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Erica Lee: Salaries have not increased dramatically in the past 10 years, but the way they are calculated is more innovative. In the greater Phoenix area, employers are offering an initial new graduate RN salary, then adjusting it to market rate after a year of service. Separate from that, there is also opportunity for a merit-based increase which not only incentivizes retention but promotes excellent performance.
What soft skills should all Registered Nursing Professors possess?
Erica Lee: All graduates should keep civility front of mind. This doesn't only mean acting with kindness and assuming best intent, it also means calling out incivility when they encounter it which is a far more difficult skill to master. I recommend role modeling after individuals they trust and admire and eventually it will become second nature.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Julie Kruse Ph.D.: There are several areas in nursing that will most likely see an increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1) Telehealth Nursing: Telehealth has been defined as the sharing of heath information by patients and providers either synchronously or asynchronously using a telephone, videophone, or biometric monitoring unit (Bowles et al, 2012; Radhakrishnan et al, 2016). The COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated growth in the area of telehealth and some researchers have estimated that over 30% of outpatient visits were conducted by telehealth in 2020.
The American Hospital Association reported that the number of hospitals either partially or fully implementing telehealth grew from 35% in 2010 to 76% in 2017. The compounded annual growth of telehealth is projected to grow over 28% from 2019 - 2025 according to an Arizton Market Report.
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic stimulated a spike in the growth of telehealth, this area of health care has been rapidly expanding over the past decade. Telehealth has been used with success in managing patients with heart disease, diabetes, COPD, and chronic wounds. Additionally, there will be a need for telehealth services to treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression as well as providing public health outreach to women, infants, and children.
2) Nursing in Outpatient and Community Settings: There will continue to be a shift from nursing care in hospital settings to community and outpatient settings.
3) Mental Health and Wellness: There will be a continued and increased need for mental health and wellness services. In a recent national study by Ettman et al. (2020), it was reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 3-fold increase in the number of people who reported depressive symptoms. This increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms from the pandemic is further supported by the Kaiser Family Foundation who report that 11% of adults reported anxiety and depressive symptoms from January-June of 2019 versus 41.1% in January of 2021. The demand for nurses in this field will continue to expand as the number of people who experience mental health and substance misuse conditions continues to outpace the number of nurses and clinicians who can provide care.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Registered Nursing Professors?
Julie Kruse Ph.D.: In terms of certifications, this really depends on the type of nursing that you are interested in specializing in. For telehealth nursing there is not a specific certification; however, many nurses who work in telehealth have certifications in Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN, 2021) which has the broad scope of knowledge necessary for this field. In terms of mental health nursing, obtaining licensure as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will allow you to provide mental health care services to children, adults, families, groups, and communities. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2021) has a website that offers additional information about careers in this field of nursing.
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Julie Kruse Ph.D.: In the last century, nursing has been a stable career choice in terms of job stability and with the continued and projected nursing shortage, it will be a viable option in the future. Nursing is also a career choice that offers a comfortable living wage.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019) reports that the median salary for a nurse is $73,300 (range $52,080- $111,220) with a median hourly rate of $35.24 (range $25.04- $53.47). According to Nurse.com nursing salaries have had increased growth by 2.6% every year since 2014. The nursing shortage combined with a comfortable living wage makes nursing an excellent career choice.
References
American Academy of Ambulatory Nursing (2021). https://www.aaacn.org/certification/telehealth-certification
How have salaries changed over time for Registered Nursing Professors?
Dr. Terri Gibson: Definitely. I've been licensed over 30 years and have seen increases-thankfully. I remember working as a nurse for $9 an hour. It was great to get a position in a clinic for $17 an hour. Moving into the hospital setting meant I earned even more per hour. Now there are many positions available to nurses and sometimes unfortunately, great variations in wages. We talk about needing more nursing students and the shortage of nursing educators, and how we need to support educators to have wages more closely aligned with others who practice in an acute care setting. I hope something changes to help correct these significant needs. According to recent reports I've read, earnings are still a big impetus for where people choose to work.
What technical skills for a Registered Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Dr. Terri Gibson: We have learned that prospective employers really appreciate when students have worked at the bedside. This includes as a nurse technician. In particular, they appreciate students who have spent full shifts working along an RN in a care delivery setting. We call this the Nursing Capstone Clinical, which is usually offered a student's final semester of nursing school. Not only do employers know that students have been able to show up on time and meet the demands of a 12-hour shift and all the care that is implemented during those hours, students also highly value the experience. They feel that now they have a better sense of what to expect. They've also benefited from the wisdom of their preceptor, particularly when unusual incidents come up that would not have been addressed in nursing school. The RN preceptors we have worked with have been awesome role models in this regard.
Other skills would be personal presence and patient support/communication. I do mock interviews for my senior nursing students and I receive great feedback from both students and the leader volunteers from local healthcare organizations that conduct the interviews for me through this Leadership Class activity. The students appreciate that they have a better sense of what to expect in an interview. The interviewers seem to appreciate those students who can step up and engage fully in the interview, identifying their strengths, ability to communicate and show that they care and have a passion for patient care.
It seems many employers need something that catches their attention from the myriad number of applicants and limited jobs they have to offer a new grad. Volunteerism, leadership opportunities and participation in special nursing-related projects seems to provide an extra boost to those students who show their enthusiasm and competence for nursing in this way.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Registered Nursing Professors?
Judy Scott: Being able to pass the NCLEX-RN exam with their first attempt will have a large impact on the student's ability secure that first position after graduation. Many students have taken advantage of the opportunity to work as an apprentice nurse during their last semester of school, thereby obtaining valuable work experience. Those that have not, will experience a nurse precepted experience working along side a nursing professional.
What soft skills should all Registered Nursing Professors possess?
Judy Scott: All graduates need to be able to communicate well with Patients, their families, fellow nurses and staff as well as Primary Care Providers. They need to have an enquiring mind, a thirst for learning and expanding their knowledge base. Developing clinical judgment-insightful thinking will help the graduate care for their patients and to be a valuable member of the healthcare team. Professional behavior needed to collaborate with the interdisciplinary health care team to ensure the best care possible is provided for all patients and families is another important soft skill needed.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Registered Nursing Professors?
Elizabeth Curtin: I believe so, especially with health care. We are in a nursing shortage right now and, unfortunately, nation-wide, we are seeing higher attrition rates in nursing, especially with the new nurses. Health care facilities are going to have to come up with new programs to help mentor the new nurses and to also support the seasoned nurses or the nursing will become even worse.
What technical skills for a Registered Nursing Professor stand out to employers?
Elizabeth Curtin: More hands-on skills, resilience, adaptability to the ever-changing environment.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Registered Nursing Professor job market given the pandemic?
Keri Stolz-Russell: I would say that one of the biggest trends we'll see are nurses who experience "burnout" much more quickly. Taking care of COVID patients is exhausting both mentally and physically. I know that I always have to prepare myself mentally to enter a COVID room and go through my mental checklist of dos and don'ts, make sure all the supplies that I'll need if they're not already in the room, make sure I have a "gofer" nearby so I can poke my head out if I need something, and prepare myself to be uncomfortable under all of the PPE. The mental fatigue doesn't end there once I have left the patient's room. The facility I work for does not allow COVID positive patient s to have visitors which means there are a lot more families calling for updates along with long explanations as to what certain medications are, whether or not their family member is getting the treatment described on T.V., and whether or not I think their loved one will make it. The mental fatigue is then brought home with me. I'm concerned about bringing it into the car where my children sit to go run errands and attend school activities. I am concerned about taking off my scrubs as soon as I get home, putting them in the washer, taking a shower, and praying that I didn't bring it into my home.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Registered Nursing Professors?
Keri Stolz-Russell: I truly think that all depends on where you're trying to go. Regardless of where you want to go, I think doing an internship is always a great idea and will help narrow down your interests while providing some experience at the same time. Once you land on a specific area I would suggest working toward a certification in that area. Having that will show your development commitment to that specific area and could possibly allow for some advancement.
What's a good job out of college for Registered Nursing Professors?
Keri Stolz-Russell: I tend to lean toward a Med/surg job. Med/Surg is fast paced and provides new nurses with a variety of diseases processes, complications, medical equipment, and ways to develop their clinical and critical thinking skills. I know that many new grads have the desire and goal to be an ER or CCU nurse, which is great of course, but I personally think that some experience on a med/surg floor first should be a stepping stone to getting there. It's interesting because when getting report from an ER nurse I can always tell who has had experience on a med/surg floor compared to those who have always been an ER nurse. These nurses tend to "have all of their ducks in a row" regardless of how long they've had their patient and they know more specific details regarding the patients living situation, meds that were given, and what actually brought them to the ER. On the other hand, ER nurses who only know the ER setting aren't as detailed, but rather give a brief overview as to why the patient came in and what has already been done. I've been told by coworkers who went from a med/surg floor to the ER or CCU that they were thankful that they started on med/surg first because it allowed them to develop the skills and clinical/critical reasoning at a slower pace as opposed to being forced to play "catch up" immediately down in ER or CCU while caring for critically ill patients.