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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities > Publications > Snapshots

Registered nurses, 2016-2020

Background

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families.

As of May 2020, there were 2,986,500 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $38.47, and the average annual wage was $80,010.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for registered nurses, there were 78,740 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 390.6.

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Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, registered nurses, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic^[1]	Number of cases
Nature of injury or illness
All other natures	57,860
Sprains, strains, tears	11,530
Soreness, pain	3,930
Bruises, contusions	2,410
Fractures	1,620
Part of body affected
Body systems	55,130
Back	5,850
Multiple body parts	2,900
Shoulder	2,550
Knee	2,040
Source of injury or illness
All other sources	57,380
Patient	10,850
Floors, walkways, ground surfaces	4,480
Worker motion or position	2,370
Furniture, fixtures	1,020
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness
Exposure to harmful substances or environments	55,750
Fall on same level	4,500
Intentional injury by other person	2,870
Overexertion in lifting or lowering	2,290
Struck by object or equipment	1,590
^[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 11 for registered nurses during 2020, compared to 18 during 2019.

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Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

Last Modified Date: February 11, 2022