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Of the 77,553 nurses surveyed in Wisconsin, less than 50% work in hospitals.
-2010 Wisconsin RN Survey

2010 RN Survey

In Wisconsin, Registered Nurses (RNs) are required to complete a survey when renewing their license. This 2010 summary unveils the characteristics of the 77,553 RN’s in the state. The information reported provides valuable insight into Wisconsin’s registered nurses, who represent the single largest group of health care workers in the state. This information was gathered through a data collaborative including DWD, Wisconsin Center for Nursing, Department of Regulation and Licensing, as well as other affiliated health care associations, their issues and the care they provide.

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General Information | Registered Nurses in Focus | Graphs | Technical Notes

General Information

	Total Valid Survey Respondents	% of Applicable Respondents
Survey Response*	n = 77,553

Gender (n = 77,515)
Female	72,271	93.2%
Male	5,244	6.8%
Age Distribution (n = 77,442)
<25	2,059	2.7%
25-29	6,855	8.9%
30-34	7,028	9.1%
35-39	7,692	9.9%
40-44	7,738	10.0%
45-49	10,522	13.6%
50-54	12,072	15.6%
55-59	11,492	14.8%
60-64	6,891	8.9%
65-69	3,214	4.2%
70-74	1,335	1.7%
75 and older	544	0.7%
Race/Ethnicity (n = 77,014)
White	72,909	94.7%
Black/African American	1,642	2.1%
Hispanic	951	1.2%
Other	1,512	2.0%
Advanced Practice Nurses (n = 77,553)
Educationally prepared advanced practice nurse with masters degree	5,110	6.6%
Master's degree working as an APN	3,802	4.9%
Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber**	2,252	2.9%
Highest level of education - all degrees (n = 77,385)
PhD	731	0.9%
Master	9,303	12.0%
Bachelor	34,376	44.4%
Associate	24,922	32.2%
Nursing Diploma	8,053	10.4%
Highest level of nursing education (n = 76,738)
PhD	286	0.4%
Master	6,614	8.6%
Bachelor	32,887	42.9%
Associate	27,777	36.2%
Nursing Diploma	9,174	12.0%
*Information reflects self-reported data and valid responses only.
**3,386 APNPs as 04/10/10. Source: Department of Regulation and Licensing.

Registered Nurses in Focus

WORKFORCE INFORMATION

		Total Valid Survey Respondents	% of Applicable Respondents
Wisconsin RN Workforce		69,887
Working in healthcare		68,497	98.0%
Working in healthcare in Wisconsin		61,094	87.4%
Age 55 years and over by work setting (26.1%)	Avg. Age (yrs)	= 55 yrs
Academic Education	51	689	42.8%
Ambulatory Care	47	2,821	28.6%
Home Health	48	1,018	33.9%
Hospital	42	6,403	19.0%
Nursing Home/Extended Care	47	2,394	32.0%
Public/Community Health	50	1,276	38.52%
Other	48	3,356	33.8%

CHARACTERISTICS of RN’S in the WISCONSIN LABOR MARKET

	Total Valid Survey Respondents	% of Applicable Respondents
Primary place of work
Academic Education	1,406	2.3%
Ambulatory Care	8,977	14.6%
Home Health	2,588	4.2%
Hospital	30,731	49.9%
Nursing Home/Extended Care	6,927	11.3%
Public/Community Health	2,896	4.7%
Other	8,017	13.0%

DIRECT PATIENT CARE PROVIDERS in WISCONSIN

	Total Valid Survey Respondents	% of Applicable Respondents
Compensation of direct patient care (DPC) providers
Hourly	43,988	82.8%
Salary	8,160	15.4%
Unpaid	671	1.3%
Hourly DPC providers by hours worked (n = 43,988)
< 20 hrs	3,297	7.5%
20 - 35 hrs	17,160	39.0%
36 - 40 hrs	17,039	38.7%
41 - 48 hrs	3,123	7.1%
49 and more hours	3,369	7.7%
Hourly DPC providers 40+ hours/week by workplace (n = 6,479)
Ambulatory Care	795	12.3%
Home Health	404	6.2%
Hospital	3,839	59.3%
Nursing Home/Extended Care	767	11.8%
Public/Community Health	184	2.8%
Other	490	7.6%
Plans to leave DPC (n = 50,767)
< 2 years	2,382	4.7%
2 - 4 years	6,691	13.2%
5 - 9 years	9,528	18.8%
10 or more years	32,166	63.4%

Technical Notes

The data reported in this publication reflects a survey mandated under Chapter 106.30 Wis.Stats for all Wisconsin registered nurses (RNs). The survey was conducted as an element in the biannual license renewal requirement from January 6, 2010 and March 1, 2010. The mandate was communicated to registered nurses through numerous venues and organizations as well as employers.

Two forms of the survey were used, an on-line internet version and a mail-in paper version. The data summarized in this report includes all paper responses received prior to March 17, 2010. The two versions are substantially the same, though the paper survey contains missing responses while the on-line version required responses to all questions. The dataset includes 77,553 responses, of which 3,111 are from the paper survey. (See the Additional Information Section for contact information to receive additional technical background and information on accessing the dataset for specific analyses.)

The survey instrument was constructed and processed by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development in consultation with the Wisconsin Health Workforce Data Collaborative. The survey reflects multiple surveys of the registered nurse community and contains all data elements of the National Nursing Workforce Minimum Dataset: Supply.

The survey was administered by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing.

This project is funded in part by the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, a component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Additional Information

For additional survey information, email Nelse Grundvig at anelse.grundvig@dwd.wisconsin.gov

Send mail requests to:

Nelse Grundvig
Attn: Nurses Survey
Labor Market Information Section
Department of Workforce Development
201 E. Washington Ave
P.O. Box 7944
Madison WI, 53707