The Registered Nurse Population: Findings from the 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses

HRSA - U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Service Administration

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

The Registered Nurse Population: Findings from the 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses

Tables

Table Index

Table 1. Registered nurse population, by employment status, gender, racial/ethnic background, and age group: March 2004

Gender, racial/ethnic background and age group	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Employment status
				Employed in nursing			Not employed in nursing
				Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated
		Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent
Total	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	30,233	2,421,351	100.0	5,402	488,006	100.0

Gender
Male	2,166	168,181	5.8	1,937	148,642	6.1	229	19,539	4.0
Female	33,454	2,740,144	94.2	28,283	2,271,717	93.8	5,171	468,427	96.0
Not known	15	1,033	0.0	13	993	0.0	2	40	0.0

Racial/ethnic background
White (non-hispanic)	29,561	2,380,529	81.8	24,958	1,966,330	81.2	4,603	414,199	84.9
Black/African American (non-hispanic)	1,297	122,495	4.2	1,146	106,644	4.4	151	15,850	3.2
Asian (non-hispanic)	963	84,383	2.9	863	75,943	3.1	100	8,440	1.7
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (non-hisp)	65	5,594	0.2	55	4,613	0.2	10	981	0.2
American Indian/Alaska Native (non-hisp)	157	9,453	0.3	141	8,347	0.3	16	1,106	0.2
Hispanic/Latino (any race)	512	48,009	1.7	450	42,262	1.7	62	5,747	1.2
Two or more races (non-hispanic)	519	41,244	1.4	451	35,554	1.5	68	5,690	1.2
Not known	2,561	217,651	7.5	2,169	181,658	7.5	392	35,993	7.4

Age group
Less than 25	609	61,778	2.1	588	59,592	2.5	21	2,186	0.4
25-29	2,117	171,659	5.9	1,981	159,676	6.6	136	11,983	2.5
30-34	3,053	243,182	8.4	2,794	221,052	9.1	259	22,130	4.5
35-39	3,646	289,525	10.0	3,280	256,967	10.6	366	32,557	6.7
40-44	4,996	408,248	14.0	4,481	360,249	14.9	515	47,999	9.8
45-49	6,407	508,708	17.5	5,718	449,797	18.6	689	58,910	12.1
50-54	5,816	463,565	15.9	5,160	406,748	16.8	656	56,817	11.6
55-59	4,099	338,078	11.6	3,361	271,264	11.2	738	66,814	13.7
60-64	2,477	210,196	7.2	1,667	136,191	5.6	810	74,006	15.2
65 and over	2,085	185,254	6.4	928	75,305	3.1	1,157	109,949	22.5
Not known	330	29,165	1.0	275	24,511	1.0	55	4,655	1.0

Average age		46.8			45.4			54.1
Median age		47.0			46.0			55.0

NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 2. Year of graduation from initial nursing education and the average age at graduation for the registered nurse population, by type of initial nurse education: March 2004

Year of graduation/age at graduation from initial nursing education	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Type of Initial Nursing Education
		Total Estimated		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and higher degree
		Number*	Percent	Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and higher degree
		Number*	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Total	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	733,377	100.0	1,227,256	100.0	902,625	100.0

Year of graduation from initial nursing education
2000 or later	3,103	265,243	9.1	7,377	1.0	151,005	12.3	105,922	11.7
1995-1999	4,968	386,296	13.3	22,360	3.0	218,476	17.8	144,766	16.0
1990-1994	4,971	383,182	13.2	32,629	4.4	230,913	18.8	118,072	13.1
1985-1989	4,157	336,771	11.6	43,476	5.9	173,976	14.2	117,783	13.0
1984 or earlier	17,780	1,483,436	51.0	623,368	85.0	442,643	36.1	411,283	45.6
Not known	656	54,430	1.9	4,169	0.6	10,244	0.8	4,800	0.5

Average age at graduation by year of graduation		All Graduates		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and Higher
2000 or later		29.6		31.8		31.8		26.3
1995-1999		31.0		30.2		33.3		27.5
1990-1994		31.0		28.9		33.2		27.2
1985-1989		28.4		25.5		31.0		25.5
1984 or earlier		23.8		22.0		26.7		23.4

* Includes 14,979 nurses whose initial nursing education was in a master's degree program, 532 in a doctoral degree program, and 46,098 for whose initial nursing education was not known.

NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 3. Health occupation prior to initial nursing education, by type of initial nursing education: March 2004

Health occupation prior to initial nursing education**	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Type of Initial Nursing Education
		Total Estimated		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and higher degree
		Number*	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent

Total	19,160	1,512,066	100.0	257,530	17.0	797,925	52.8	451,499	29.9

Nursing Aide	12,631	977,354	100.0	186,929	19.1	460,759	47.1	326,650	33.4
Licensed practical/vocational nurse	4,729	364,527	100.0	28,644	7.9	292,365	80.2	41,927	11.5
Allied health	2,327	184,266	100.0	19,886	10.8	115,161	62.5	48,427	26.3
Manager in health care setting	455	37,922	100.0	3,712	9.6	25,125	66.1	8,921	23.5
Clerk in health care setting	2,574	208,797	100.0	26,110	12.5	117,074	56.1	64,973	31.1
Allied health position	490	38,429	100.0	5,896	15.3	20,215	52.6	12,070	31.4
Volunteer	190	16,392	100.0	7,786	47.5	4,014	24.5	4,565	27.8
Home health/personal services aide	226	19,739	100.0	1,868	9.5	10,265	52.0	7,606	38.5
Student nurse	123	9,772	100.0	1,447	14.8	1,901	19.5	6,328	64.8
Counselor/social worker/activity therapists/Chaplain	131	10,667	100.0	856	8.0	5,431	50.9	4,162	39.0
Other services or support aide personnel in health care	122	8,934	100.0	3,555	39.8	2,642	29.6	2,664	29.8
Armed services medic/corpsman or similar role	176	13,486	100.0	2,088	15.5	7,377	54.7	3,919	29.1
Other non-health related work	56	4,687	100.0	1,042	22.8	2,318	49.4	1,328	28.3
Other health	491	40,260	100.0	6,379	15.8	19,152	47.6	14,481	36.0

*Includes 5,304 nurses whose initial education was unknown
**Health occupation entries may add to more than the total because more than one occupation may have been named by an individual RN
NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 4. Registered nurses who were ever licensed as practical/vocational nurse, by type of initial nursing education: March 2004

Year of graduation/age at graduation from initial nursing education after being LPN/LVN	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Type of Initial Nursing Education
		Total Estimated		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and higher degree
		Number*	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Total	6,186	484,809	100.0	45,633	100.0	362,046	100.0	75,061	100.0

Year of graduation from initial nursing education
2000 or later	740	53,273	11.0	533	1.2	47,931	13.2	4,760	6.3
1995-1999	1,017	72,399	14.9	2,879	6.3	61,745	17.1	7,557	10.1
1990-1994	1,252	86,635	17.9	3,852	8.4	71,823	19.8	10,906	14.5
1985-1989	1,049	83,038	17.1	6,260	13.7	63,501	17.5	12,780	17.0
1984 or earlier	2,036	182,414	37.6	31,539	69.1	111,488	30.8	38,570	51.4
Not known	92	7,050	1.5	570	1.2	5,558	1.5	488	0.7

Average age at graduation by year of graduation		All Graduates		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and Higher
2000 or later		33.9		42.3		34.0		32.5
1995-1999		35.2		36.0		35.3		34.2
1990-1994		34.8		33.9		35.2		32.3
1985-1989		32.7		28.7		34.0		27.9
1984 or earlier		27.6		25.1		29.4		24.3

* Includes an estimated 62,340 nurses who are also included in Table 3, and an estimated 2,070 nurses for whom type of basic education was not reported.
NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 5. Characteristics of registered nurses with post-high school academic degree before entering initial nursing education, by type of initial nursing education: March 2004

Characteristics of nurses with prior degrees	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Type of Initial Nursing Education
		Total Estimated		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and higher degree
		Number*	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Total	5,807	471,603	100.0	42,380	100.0	245,484	100.0	181,325	100.0

Degree obtained before initial nursing education
Associate degree	2,994	247,962	52.6	20,840	49.2	153,255	62.4	72,785	40.1
Baccalaureate	2,944	236,871	50.2	22,379	52.8	98,363	40.1	114,885	63.4
Master's degree	250	19,441	4.1	1,582	3.7	9,616	3.9	8,121	4.5
Doctorate	21	1,413	0.3	38	0.1	814	0.3	561	0.3
Other	55	3,170	0.7	203	0.5	2,891	1.2	67	0.0

Major field of study before initial nursing ed
Health related field	1,544	126,083	26.7	11,472	27.1	67,090	27.3	47,213	26.0
Biological or physical science	1,019	79,921	16.9	6,396	15.1	33,746	13.7	39,121	21.6
Business management	548	45,012	9.5	3,895	9.2	28,093	11.4	12,929	7.1
Education	469	38,655	8.2	4,243	10.0	23,962	9.8	10,137	5.6
Liberal arts	1,805	150,821	32.0	13,909	32.8	75,702	30.8	60,568	33.4
Law	24	1,718	0.4	40	0.1	1,188	0.5	490	0.3
Computer science	43	2,976	0.6	646	1.5	1,547	0.6	783	0.4
Social work	109	8,489	1.8	197	0.5	5,130	2.1	2,944	1.6
Other non-health-related field	162	11,210	2.4	677	1.6	5,802	2.4	4,551	2.5

Year of graduation from initial nursing education
2000 or later	852	69,977	14.8	2,084	4.9	37,555	15.3	29,766	16.4
1995-1999	1,381	107,784	22.9	6,579	15.5	55,734	22.7	45,006	24.8
1990-1994	1,165	89,163	18.9	5,693	13.4	51,704	21.1	31,408	17.3
1985-1989	734	61,737	13.1	5,820	13.7	33,410	13.6	22,373	12.3
1984 or earlier	1,613	137,915	29.2	22,121	52.2	63,883	26.0	51,328	28.3
Not known	62	5,027	1.1	83	0.2	3,197	1.3	1,443	0.8

Average age at graduation by year of graduation		All Graduates		Diploma		Associate Degree		Baccalaureate and Higher
2000 or later		32.6		32.8		34.2		30.7
1995-1999		32.9		33.1		34.3		31.0
1990-1994		33.8		32.9		35.3		31.4
1985-1989		31.5		30.2		32.9		29.7
1984 or earlier		27.8		26.6		29.2		26.5

* Includes 2,413 RNs for whom type of initial nursing education was not reported
NOTE: The number of degrees may add to more than the totals because more than one degree may have been named
NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 6. Marital status and presence of children, by employment status in principal nursing position: March 2004

Marital status and presence of children	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Employment status
				Employed in nursing full-time			Employed in nursing part-time			Employed in nursing full-time/part-time unknown			Not employed in nursing
				Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated
		Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent
Total	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	21,196	1,696,807	100.0	8,993	720,283	100.0	44	4,261	100.0	5,402	488,006	100.0

Married	25,339	2,050,659	70.5	14,116	1,115,716	65.8	7,237	577,238	80.1	27	2,553	59.9	3,959	355,154	72.8
Children under 6 only	2,774	225,572	7.8	1,351	106,620	6.3	1,087	88,714	12.3	4	275	6.5	332	29,963	6.1
Children 6-18 only	8,074	650,793	22.4	4,698	369,212	21.8	2,496	202,398	28.1	8	778	18.2	872	78,405	16.1
Children in both age groups	2,099	162,791	5.6	1,012	75,269	4.4	809	63,202	8.8	2	304	7.1	276	24,016	4.9
No children	12,192	994,588	34.2	6,967	557,527	32.9	2,798	219,749	30.5	12	1,181	27.7	2,415	216,131	44.3
Children unknown	200	16,916	0.6	88	7,087	0.4	47	3,175	0.4	1	15	0.4	64	6,639	1.4

Widowed/separated/divorced	6,415	526,370	18.1	4,284	342,527	20.2	1,135	92,121	12.8	7	566	13.3	989	91,156	18.7
Children under 6 only	173	13,300	0.5	127	9,902	0.6	32	2,183	0.3	0	0	0.0	14	1,214	0.2
Children 6-18 only	1,675	137,283	4.7	1,275	102,696	6.1	248	20,678	2.9	3	350	8.2	149	13,558	2.8
Children in both age groups	184	14,683	0.5	143	11,992	0.7	33	2,175	0.3	0	0	0.0	8	516	0.1
No children	4,321	355,309	12.2	2,708	215,502	12.7	812	66,124	9.2	4	216	5.1	797	73,468	15.1
Children unknown	62	5,795	0.2	31	2,435	0.1	10	960	0.1	0	0	0.0	21	2,400	0.5

Never married	3,147	268,747	9.2	2,348	200,166	11.8	451	36,591	5.1	2	142	3.3	346	31,848	6.5
Children under 6 only	106	9,131	0.3	82	7,480	0.4	22	1,552	0.2	0	0	0.0	2	99	0.0
Children 6-18 only	223	18,657	0.6	182	15,184	0.9	29	2,517	0.3	0	0	0.0	12	956	0.2
Children in both age groups	33	2,854	0.1	24	2,172	0.1	6	405	0.1	0	0	0.0	3	277	0.1
No children	2,743	234,208	8.1	2,034	173,018	10.2	389	31,706	4.4	2	142	3.3	318	29,342	6.0
Children unknown	42	3,897	0.1	26	2,311	0.1	5	411	0.1	0	0	0.0	11	1,175	0.2

Not known	734	63,581	2.2	448	38,399	2.3	170	14,333	2.0	8	1,000	23.5	108	9,849	2.0

NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 7. Marital status and caring for other adults at home or others elsewhere, by employment status in principal nursing position: March 2004

				Employed in nursing full-time			Employed in nursing part-time			Employed in nursing full-time/part-time unknown			Not employed in nursing
Marital status and caring for adults at home or others elsewhere	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Employment status
				Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated
		Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent

Total	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	21,196	1,696,807	100.0	8,993	720,283	100.0	44	4,261	100.0	5,402	488,006	100.0

Marital status/presence of adults
Married	25,339	2,050,659	70.5	14,116	1,115,716	65.8	7,237	577,238	80.1	27	2,553	59.9	3,959	355,154	72.8
Adults at home	3,809	326,689	11.2	2,424	204,921	12.1	870	72,779	10.1	3	323	7.6	512	48,666	10.0
No adults at home	21,330	1,707,054	58.7	11,604	903,707	53.3	6,320	501,283	69.6	23	2,214	52.0	3,383	299,849	61.4
Not known if adults at home	200	16,916	0.6	88	7,087	0.4	47	3,175	0.4	1	15	0.4	64	6,639	1.4

Widowed/separated/divorced	6,415	526,370	18.1	4,284	342,527	20.2	1,135	92,121	12.8	7	566	13.3	989	91,156	18.7
Adults at home	1,113	98,303	3.4	822	70,507	4.2	162	15,151	2.1	1	159	3.7	128	12,486	2.6
No adults at home	5,240	422,271	14.5	3,431	269,585	15.9	963	76,010	10.6	6	407	9.6	840	76,269	15.6
Not known if adults at home	62	5,795	0.2	31	2,435	0.1	10	960	0.1	0	0	0.0	21	2,400	0.5

Never married	3,147	268,747	9.2	2,348	200,166	11.8	451	36,591	5.1	2	142	3.3	346	31,848	6.5
Adults at home	407	37,716	1.3	308	28,744	1.7	62	5,396	0.7	0	0	0.0	37	3,576	0.7
No adults at home	2,698	227,134	7.8	2,014	169,110	10.0	384	30,783	4.3	2	142	3.3	298	27,097	5.6
Not known if adults at home	42	3,897	0.1	26	2,311	0.1	5	411	0.1	0	0	0.0	11	1,175	0.2

Marital status/care for others living elsewhere
Married	25,339	2,050,659	70.5	14,116	1,115,716	65.8	7,237	577,238	80.1	27	2,553	59.9	3,959	355,154	72.8
Others living elsewhere	4,308	350,292	12.0	2,538	200,216	11.8	1,115	90,152	12.5	5	607	14.2	650	59,317	12.2
No others elsewhere	20,831	1,683,452	57.9	11,490	908,412	53.5	6,075	483,911	67.2	21	1,931	45.3	3,245	289,198	59.3
Unknown if others	200	16,916	0.6	88	7,087	0.4	47	3,175	0.4	1	15	0.4	64	6,639	1.4

Widowed/separated/divorced	6,415	526,370	18.1	4,284	342,527	20.2	1,135	92,121	12.8	7	566	13.3	989	91,156	18.7
Other living elsewhere	1,020	82,689	2.8	727	57,989	3.4	157	12,543	1.7	0	0	0.0	136	12,157	2.5
No other elsewhere	5,333	437,886	15.1	3,526	282,103	16.6	968	78,618	10.9	7	566	13.3	832	76,598	15.7
Unknown if others	62	5,795	0.2	31	2,435	0.1	10	960	0.1	0	0	0.0	21	2,400	0.5

Never married	3,147	268,747	9.2	2,348	200,166	11.8	451	36,591	5.1	2	142	3.3	346	31,848	6.5
Other living elsewhere	203	17,359	0.6	143	12,482	0.7	31	2,273	0.3	0	0	0.0	29	2,604	0.5
No other elsewhere	2,902	247,491	8.5	2,179	185,373	10.9	415	33,907	4.7	2	142	3.3	306	28,069	5.8
Unknown if others	42	3,897	0.1	26	2,311	0.1	5	411	0.1	0	0	0.0	11	1,175	0.2

Not known	734	63,581	2.2	448	38,399	2.3	170	14,333	2.0	8	1,000	23.5	108	9,849	2.0

NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 8. Distribution of registered nurses according to total household income, by marital and employment status: March 2004

Marital status and household income				Employment status
				Employed in nursing full-time			Employed in nursing part-time			Employed in nursing full-time/part-time unknown			Not employed in nursing
	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Employed in nursing full-time			Employed in nursing part-time			Employed in nursing full-time/part-time unknown			Not employed in nursing
		Total Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated
		Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent

Total	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	21,196	1,696,807	100.0	8,993	720,283	100.0	44	4,261	100.0	5,402	488,006	100.0

$ 15,000 or less	370	30,676	1.1	12	977	0.1	99	7,423	1.0	0	0	0.0	259	22,276	4.6
$ 15,001 - $ 25,000	640	54,302	1.9	41	3,545	0.2	247	18,332	2.5	1	102	2.4	351	32,324	6.6
$ 25,001 - $ 35,000	1,325	103,379	3.6	399	29,123	1.7	445	32,448	4.5	1	122	2.9	480	41,686	8.5
$ 35,001 - $ 50,000	4,499	354,601	12.2	2,670	206,593	12.2	1,086	82,163	11.4	6	395	9.3	737	65,449	13.4
$ 50,001 - $ 75,000	9,436	739,763	25.4	6,375	492,525	29.0	2,084	160,498	22.3	8	730	17.1	969	86,011	17.6
$ 75,001 - $100,000	8,046	658,044	22.6	5,226	421,851	24.9	2,050	167,119	23.2	9	781	18.3	761	68,294	14.0
$100,001 - $150,000	6,416	541,889	18.6	4,167	348,209	20.5	1,630	137,260	19.1	3	309	7.2	616	56,111	11.5
More than $150,000	2,693	237,572	8.2	1,330	113,103	6.7	741	64,182	8.9	3	412	9.7	619	59,876	12.3
Not reported	2,210	189,130	6.5	976	80,882	4.8	611	50,858	7.1	13	1,411	33.1	610	55,980	11.5

Married
$ 15,000 or less	122	9,676	0.3	6	267	0.0	40	2,926	0.4	0	0	0.0	76	6,483	1.3
$ 15,001 - $ 25,000	223	17,429	0.6	16	860	0.1	83	5,627	0.8	1	102	2.4	123	10,840	2.2
$ 25,001 - $ 35,000	579	44,507	1.5	125	8,343	0.5	193	13,943	1.9	1	122	2.9	260	22,099	4.5
$ 35,001 - $ 50,000	2,061	157,010	5.4	931	68,737	4.1	628	44,839	6.2	3	186	4.4	499	43,248	8.9
$ 50,001 - $ 75,000	5,859	447,802	15.4	3,402	253,115	14.9	1,699	129,391	18.0	2	230	5.4	756	65,066	13.3
$ 75,001 - $100,000	6,802	549,292	18.9	4,233	335,411	19.8	1,897	153,898	21.4	9	781	18.3	663	59,202	12.1
$100,001 - $150,000	5,886	493,862	17.0	3,748	310,755	18.3	1,573	131,506	18.3	3	309	7.2	562	51,293	10.5
More than $150,000	2,516	221,349	7.6	1,196	101,275	6.0	720	61,986	8.6	3	412	9.7	597	57,677	11.8
Not reported	1,291	109,732	3.8	459	36,953	2.2	404	33,122	4.6	5	411	9.6	423	39,246	8.0

NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 9. Financial resources used for tuition and fees for initial nursing education, by type of initial nursing degree: March 2004

Financial resources used	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Type of Initial Nursing Education
		Total Estimated		Diploma Estimated		Associate Degree Estimated		Baccalaureate Estimated		Masters/Doctorate Estimated
		Number**	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
Total*	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	733,377	100.0	1,227,256	100.0	887,114	100.0	15,511	100.0

Personal resources	19,245	1,541,250	53.0	270,866	36.9	833,475	67.9	421,972	47.6	9,841	63.4
Family resources	16,816	1,401,009	48.2	483,948	66.0	335,719	27.4	570,848	64.3	5,958	38.4
Employer tuition, reimbursement plan	3,074	239,588	8.2	32,483	4.4	151,087	12.3	53,550	6.0	1,559	10.1
Federal traineeship, scholarship or grant	5,088	384,303	13.2	51,854	7.1	182,204	14.8	145,419	16.4	3,561	23.0
Federally assisted loan	8,527	643,097	22.1	71,651	9.8	274,093	22.3	289,296	32.6	5,848	37.7
State or local government scholarship, loan or grant	6,699	529,382	18.2	80,326	11.0	229,723	18.7	214,961	24.2	2,839	18.3
Non-government scholarship, loan or grant	6,422	495,006	17.0	122,544	16.7	160,518	13.1	207,039	23.3	3,566	23.0
Other sources	1,730	136,916	4.7	40,697	5.5	50,434	4.1	44,102	5.0	551	3.6
Unknown sources	479	41,563	1.4	2,202	0.3	2,793	0.2	1,389	0.2	0	0.0

* Source of fundings may add to more than the total because more than one financial resource may be named
**Includes an estimated 46,098 for whom initial nursing degree not known
NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal total and percents may not add to 100 because of rounding

Table 10. Registered nurse population, by initial nursing and highest nursing or nursing-related education: March 2004

Highest nursing or nursing-related education				Type of Initial Nursing Education
	Number in sample	Total Estimated		Diploma			Associate Degree			Baccalaureate
		Total Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated
		Number*	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent
Total	35,635	2,909,357	100.0	8,660	733,377	100.0	15,100	1,227,256	100.0	11,142	887,114	100.0
Employed in Nursing
Diploma	6,047	510,209	17.5	6,047	510,209	69.6	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0
Associate degree	12,048	981,238	33.7	103	9,579	1.3	11,934	970,752	79.1	0	0	0.0
Baccalaureate in related field	838	71,580	2.5	476	41,042	5.6	358	30,106	2.5	0	0	0.0
Baccalaureate in nursing	11,506	922,696	31.7	1,013	85,329	11.6	1,812	145,797	11.9	8,670	690,620	77.9
Masters in related field	1,155	94,386	3.2	337	29,357	4.0	289	22,770	1.9	524	41,633	4.7
Masters in nursing	3,182	256,415	8.8	567	46,189	6.3	632	51,318	4.2	1,794	143,113	16.1
Doctorate in related field	169	14,552	0.5	55	5,818	0.8	30	2,472	0.2	82	6,198	0.7
Doctorate in nursing	146	11,548	0.4	48	4,294	0.6	14	990	0.1	72	5,549	0.6
Not known	544	46,733	1.6	14	1,560	0.2	31	3,051	0.2	0	0	0.0

Total employed in nursing	30,233	2,421,351	100.0	6,579	540,941	100.0	13,386	1,072,626	100.0	9,650	756,554	100.0
Not Employed in Nursing
Diploma	4,527	369,741	15.3	4,527	369,741	68.4	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0
Associate degree	10,709	861,949	35.6	81	7,270	1.3	10,619	853,991	79.6	0	0	0.0
Baccalaureate in related field	646	53,979	2.2	360	30,459	5.6	285	23,439	2.2	0	0	0.0
Baccalaureate in nursing	9,976	787,575	32.5	831	68,810	12.7	1,620	127,571	11.9	7,517	590,525	78.1
Masters in related field	891	70,937	2.9	233	19,482	3.6	228	17,442	1.6	427	33,651	4.4
Masters in nursing	2,784	219,924	9.1	461	36,802	6.8	579	46,117	4.3	1,579	123,214	16.3
Doctorate in related field	124	9,371	0.4	37	3,813	0.7	20	1,142	0.1	65	4,353	0.6
Doctorate in nursing	128	10,243	0.4	44	4,110	0.8	12	804	0.1	62	4,811	0.6
Not known	448	37,634	1.6	5	454	0.1	23	2,120	0.2	0	0	0.0

Total not employed in nursing	5,402	488,006	100.0	2,081	192,436	100.0	1,714	154,631	100.0	1,492	130,560	100.0

Diploma	1,520	140,468	28.8	1,520	140,468	73.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0
Associate degree	1,339	119,290	24.4	22	2,310	1.2	1,315	116,761	75.5	0	0	0.0
Baccalaureate in related field	192	17,601	3.6	116	10,583	5.5	73	6,667	4.3	0	0	0.0
Baccalaureate in nursing	1,530	135,121	27.7	182	16,519	8.6	192	18,226	11.8	1,153	100,095	76.7
Masters in related field	264	23,449	4.8	104	9,874	5.1	61	5,329	3.4	97	7,982	6.1
Masters in nursing	398	36,492	7.5	106	9,387	4.9	53	5,200	3.4	215	19,899	15.2
Doctorate in related field	45	5,181	1.1	18	2,005	1.0	10	1,331	0.9	17	1,846	1.4
Doctorate in nursing	18	1,305	0.3	4	184	0.1	2	186	0.1	10	738	0.6
Not known	96	9,098	1.9	9	1,106	0.6	8	932	0.6	0	0	0.0

* Includes 14,979 nurses whose initial nursing education was in a master's degree program, 532 in a doctoral degree program, and 46,098 whose initial nursing education was not known. Also includes 170 initial masters in nursing updated to doctorate in nursing, of which all are employed in nursing. In addition, includes 13 initial masters in nursing upgraded to non-nursing doctorates, of which all are employed in nursing
NOTE: Estimated numbers may not equal totals, and percents may not add to 100, because of rounding

Table 11. Primary focus of post-RN master's and doctoral degree*: March 2004

Primary focus of degree	Master's degree**			Doctoral degree**
	Number in sample	Estimated		Number in sample	Estimated
	Number in sample	Number	Percent	Number in sample	Number	Percent

Total	4,802	391,472	100.0	465	40,038	100.0

Clinical practice***	2,132	171,320	43.8	25	2,330	5.8
Education	633	52,359	13.4	106	8,530	21.3
Supervision/administration	670	56,788	14.5