Millennials almost twice as likely as baby boomers to become RNs

Editor's Note

Millennials are entering the nursing workforce at nearly double the rate that baby boomers once did, this study finds. Overall, a millennial is 186% more likely to become an RN than a baby boomer.

This means the RN workforce will continue to grow, but boomer retirements will still reduce growth of the RN workforce by 1.3% per year through 2030.

One factor in millennials choosing nursing as a career may be that they are coming of age at a time of economic uncertainty and earnings instability, which was also the case when boomers entered nursing after World War II. Another may be the millennials tendency to be drawn to meaningful work, with opportunities to learn and grow, the authors note.