U.S. hospitals incur an estimated 6.8 billion dollars each year from nurse turnover alone. Nurse-led protocols have reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 27 percent according to systematic reviews. The sections below compile workforce projections, cost figures, technology adoption rates, and clinical outcome data from government and research sources.
Key Takeaways
- $59,070 median annual wage for registered nurses in the U.S. in 2023 (BLS)
- $122 per hour median pay for registered nurse overtime in the U.S. (BLS/industry wage percentile derived for overtime where reported)
- $1.7 billion estimated annual cost of falls in U.S. hospitals (AHRQ falls resources, cost of falls)
- 12% projected employment growth for registered nurses in the U.S. from 2020 to 2030
- 1.9 million projected nursing job openings in the U.S. from 2022–2032 (including growth and replacement needs for registered nurses)
- 4.6 nurses per 1,000 population in the OECD average (latest available year reported by OECD Health at a Glance)
- $146 billion global market size for home healthcare services in 2022
- $19.7 billion estimated global market for nursing care in Japan in 2023
- $18.0 billion annual U.S. spending on traveling nurses (travel nurse staffing industry estimates)
- 27% reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) after implementing nurse-led protocols (systematic review meta-analysis)
- 28% reduction in fall rates with multifactor fall prevention programs that included nurse-led interventions (Cochrane review)
- 7% lower odds of mortality in hospitals with better nurse staffing (systematic review, 2021)
- 33% reduction in documentation time for nurses after deploying EHR auto-documentation features (system improvement study)
- 62% of nurses used mobile devices for clinical documentation during shifts in 2022 (nursing technology survey report)
- $3.6 billion global market size for clinical workflow software in 2023 (vendor market report sizing)
With nurse shortages, strong nurse-led care can improve outcomes while nurses’ pay, burnout, and turnover remain critical.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cost Analysis15 stats
01
$59,070median annual wage for registered nurses in the U.S. in 2023 (BLS)
02
$122per hour median pay for registered nurse overtime in the U.S. (BLS/industry wage percentile derived for overtime where reported)
03
$1.7 billion estimated annual cost of falls in U.S. hospitals (AHRQ falls resources, cost of falls)
04
12.3% increase in U.S. nurse wage index for registered nurses from 2021 to 2023 (BLS QCEW/Employment cost index for wages)
05
1.0 day median additional length of stay for patients with hospital-acquired pressure injuries (AHRQ evidence summary using cost studies)
06
$8.8 billion estimated annual cost of hospital-acquired pressure injuries in the U.S. (AHRQ/CDC-costing synthesis)
07
$6.8 billion estimate of U.S. annual cost of nurse turnover (commonly cited turnover cost model, sources aggregated by national health workforce studies)
08
2.4% median annual cost increase for nurse staffing due to turnover and agency reliance in U.S. hospitals (peer-reviewed health services study on staffing costs)
09
$15.6 billion global cost of antimicrobial resistance attributable to infections in 2018 (WHO; nursing care is a major cost driver through infection treatment burden)
10
£6.4 billion annual cost of adult social care workforce vacancy shortfalls in England (National Audit Office)
11
$3.9 billion estimated annual national cost of nurse burnout in the U.S. (RAND/peer-reviewed costing for lost productivity and turnover)
12
$1.3 trillion U.S. healthcare spending attributed to nursing services in 2022 (estimated nursing contribution to national spending)
13
$8.7 billion U.S. estimated annual cost of missed nursing care due to staffing and time constraints (cost estimate)
14
1.6x higher likelihood of burnout-related outcomes among nurses working in facilities with higher staff turnover (relative risk estimate in peer-reviewed study)
15
4.4% of total hospital operating expense in the U.S. is attributable to turnover and related labor instability (labor-cost share estimate)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, rising nurse pay and overtime costs are happening alongside major avoidable patient-care expenses, including $1.7 billion a year for falls and $8.8 billion a year for hospital-acquired pressure injuries, while median RN wages increased 12.3% from 2021 to 2023.
02 · Category
Workforce & Demand5 stats
01
12% projected employment growth for registered nurses in the U.S. from 2020 to 2030
02
1.9 million projected nursing job openings in the U.S. from 2022–2032 (including growth and replacement needs for registered nurses)
03
4.6 nurses per 1,000 population in the OECD average (latest available year reported by OECD Health at a Glance)
04
1 in 10 (10%) of direct nursing care staff in England left their job within 12 months as of 2022–23 (NHS vacancy and turnover reporting)
05
37% of nurses reported experiencing workplace violence in the past year in a 2023 meta-analysis (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
Interpretation
Workforce & Demand Interpretation
With the U.S. projected to add only 12% employment growth yet facing 1.9 million projected nursing job openings from 2022 to 2032 alongside high turnover and unsafe conditions, the Workforce & Demand picture shows demand pressures are likely to outpace supply rather than simply rise proportionally.
03 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
$146 billion global market size for home healthcare services in 2022
02
$19.7 billion estimated global market for nursing care in Japan in 2023
03
$18.0 billion annual U.S. spending on traveling nurses (travel nurse staffing industry estimates)
04
$14.1 billion global market size for clinical nursing documentation software in 2023 (vendor market sizing report)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Across the market size data, nursing demand is represented by large and growing segments, from a $146 billion global home healthcare services market in 2022 to a $14.1 billion clinical nursing documentation software market in 2023, showing how both direct care and supporting technology are scaling at the same time.
04 · Category
Clinical Outcomes9 stats
01
27% reduction in catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) after implementing nurse-led protocols (systematic review meta-analysis)
02
28% reduction in fall rates with multifactor fall prevention programs that included nurse-led interventions (Cochrane review)
03
7% lower odds of mortality in hospitals with better nurse staffing (systematic review, 2021)
04
0.17 lower standardized mortality ratio associated with higher RN skill mix (peer-reviewed hospital staffing study)
05
34% reduction in pressure injuries with structured nurse documentation and skin assessment bundles (randomized controlled trial meta-analysis)
06
4.1% absolute reduction in hospital-acquired infections when implementing antimicrobial stewardship led by nursing teams (systematic review)
07
24% of medication errors in inpatient settings linked to nursing workflow factors (narrative/systematic review of error taxonomies)
08
0.7% absolute increase in patient satisfaction scores associated with improved nurse communication in hospitals (peer-reviewed study meta-analysis)
09
1.8% reduction in 30-day readmission rates with nurse-led transitional care (Cochrane review)
Interpretation
Clinical Outcomes Interpretation
Across these clinical outcome measures, nurse-led approaches and stronger nursing resources consistently translate into meaningful improvements, including a 27% reduction in CAUTI and up to a 34% reduction in pressure injuries, indicating that better nursing practice is tightly linked to better patient safety outcomes.
05 · Category
Technology & Digital4 stats
01
33% reduction in documentation time for nurses after deploying EHR auto-documentation features (system improvement study)
02
62% of nurses used mobile devices for clinical documentation during shifts in 2022 (nursing technology survey report)
03
$3.6 billion global market size for clinical workflow software in 2023 (vendor market report sizing)
04
27% of nurses reported that EHR usability issues contribute to care delays (survey-based evidence in peer-reviewed nursing informatics study)
Interpretation
Technology & Digital Interpretation
For the Technology and Digital angle in nursing, the evidence points to a clear payoff from better digital tools, including a 33% drop in documentation time with EHR auto-documentation alongside widespread mobile use at 62% of nurses in 2022, while usability issues still cause care delays for 27% of nurses and the market for clinical workflow software reaches $3.6 billion in 2023.
More related reading
06 · Category
Workforce Levels2 stats
01
3.1 million nurse practitioners (NPs) employed in the U.S. in 2023 (U.S. employment count)
02
2.0 million nursing assistants (including nursing assistants, orderlies, and attendants) employed in the U.S. in 2023 (U.S. employment count)
Interpretation
Workforce Levels Interpretation
In the Workforce Levels category, the U.S. employed 3.1 million nurse practitioners in 2023 alongside 2.0 million nursing assistants, underscoring a large and multi-tier nursing workforce that spans advanced practice and direct patient support.
07 · Category
Care Quality4 stats
01
78% of hospitals in the U.S. had a nurse staffing plan that included minimum staffing targets by 2022 (policy adoption rate)
02
0.8% absolute reduction in 30-day mortality after implementing nurse-led care coordination programs (effect size estimate in systematic review)
03
21% reduction in catheter-related bloodstream infections with nurse-driven insertion and maintenance bundles (bundle effectiveness estimate)
04
0.6% absolute reduction in hospital-acquired pressure injuries after nurse-led skin surveillance programs (incidence change estimate)
Interpretation
Care Quality Interpretation
Across U.S. hospitals, care quality is improving alongside stronger nursing structures, with 78% adopting minimum staffing targets by 2022 and measurable patient safety gains such as a 21% reduction in catheter-related bloodstream infections and a 0.8% absolute drop in 30-day mortality from nurse-led coordination.
08 · Category
Technology & Adoption2 stats
01
49% of nurses in the U.S. reported using mobile devices at least once during medication administration in 2022 (mobile workflow usage share)
02
71% of nurses in 2022 reported that barcode medication administration (BCMA) reduced medication administration errors in their unit (self-reported impact share)
Interpretation
Technology & Adoption Interpretation
In the Technology and Adoption space, nurses are clearly embracing medication tech with 49% using mobile devices at least once during administration in 2022 and 71% saying BCMA reduced medication errors in their units.
09 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
40% of nurses report experiencing a culture that is not supportive of reporting safety events (safety culture perception share)
02
47% of nursing graduates in 2023 were enrolled in continuing education within 12 months of graduation (continuing education participation share)
03
26% growth in U.S. residency/fellowship programs for nursing specialties from 2021 to 2023 (program growth rate)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
From an industry trends standpoint, the nursing workforce is signaling both ongoing development and persistent systemic barriers, with 40% reporting an unsupportive safety culture for reporting events while 47% of 2023 graduates pursued continuing education within 12 months and nursing specialty residency and fellowship programs grew 26% from 2021 to 2023.
report visual · Comparison
Nursing impact: costs and workforce pressure
Nursing-related costs are substantial, and staffing pressures translate into measurable impacts such as higher turnover-related costs and increased hospital costs.
$8.7 billion U.S. estimated annual cost of missed nursing care due to staffing and time constraints (cost estimate)$8.7 billion
$6.8 billion estimate of U.S. annual cost of nurse turnover (commonly cited turnover cost model, sources aggregated by n
$6.8 billion
$3.9 billion estimated annual national cost of nurse burnout in the U.S. (RAND/peer-reviewed costing for lost productivi
$3.9 billion
2.4% median annual cost increase for nurse staffing due to turnover and agency reliance in U.S. hospitals (peer-reviewed
2.4%
source-verifiedahrq.gov · rand.org · journals.lww.com · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Christopher Morgan. (2026, February 13). Nursing Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-statistics
MLA
Christopher Morgan. "Nursing Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nursing-statistics.
Chicago
Christopher Morgan. 2026. "Nursing Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+26 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)