5 Fun Facts About Nursing

After a tremendously difficult 2020, we are more grateful than ever to our clinical frontline workers. Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses and beyond – are the reason we’ve made it through. The flexibility, dedication and bravery that they possess is unmatched and doesn’t go unnoticed.

We know that nurses are wonderful people. But there are a few fun facts that you may not know about nursing.  

1. Nurses can be doctors. Seriously, it’s true. There are two types of high-level nursing degrees: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (Ph.D.) is a researched-focused degree, and a Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP). Someone who obtains a DNP is a true master of their craft because this is the highest available degree in the nursing world.
2. Nurses get thousands of steps in per shift.   According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, nurses walk an average of four to five miles over the course of a 12-hour shift. This is double what most Americans do over an 18-hour day.
3. There are nearly 4 million nurses in the U.S. That means that if we took all of our nurses and put them in one spot, they could fill up the entire city of Los Angeles! Most nurses (80 percent) are registered nurses, or RNs. And according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nurses comprise the largest arm of hospital staff. They are the primary providers of patient care in hospitals and long-term care.
4. There are more than 100 nurse specialties. NurseJournal.org lists them all out from A to Z. If you know someone who is thinking about pursuing a nursing career, they can take a look at some non-traditional specialties that are sure to stand out on a resume, such as NASCAR nurse, Disney nurse or Medical Script nurse.
5. According to Nurse.org, Americans ranked nurses the #1 most ethical and honest profession, for 19 years in a row. No surprise, right? If you’re wondering, medical doctors took second place. And then this year, grade school teachers jumped to third place. Any guesses on who’s at the bottom of the list? We’ll let you check for yourself in case you’re curious.

In closing, nurses are gems, no matter what type of specialty they have. It takes a special kind of person to care for others in all stages of life. If you’re a nurse, we want you to know that you are invaluable, and we’d love for you to join our team.

If you are looking for a new nurse position, check out the LeaderStat job board. Whether you’re looking for a permanent role or an exciting new travel nursing opportunity, our friendly recruiters are here to help you find the perfect fit.