NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A recently conducted Kaplan survey of almost 6,000 recent nursing school graduates shows that salary issues are significant concerns and that gender disparities in the workplace are not going unnoticed.* According to the study, 79% of female nurses say that not earning the same amount as their male counterparts for the same amount of work is a concern. While 61% of male counterparts sympathize with female nurses’ equality of salary concerns, 39% say it’s an issue that doesn’t bother them.
A separate study of 290,000 registered nurses released this year revealed that male nurses earn about $5,000 more annually than their female colleagues in similar roles. The study also found that this pay gap hasn’t narrowed between 1988 and 2013, though no reasons were offered for its existence. (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/stubborn-pay-gap-is-found-in-nursing/)
Other survey results:
- No Bonus for Being a Man: Kaplan’s survey also found that despite the desire and need of many healthcare providers to hire more male nurses -- who make up only one-tenth of the workforce -- just 13% think male nurses should be paid more.
- Topic of Discussion: While speaking about salary may be considered taboo, 41% of nurses say they often discuss salary with one another.
- Workplace Fairness: Nearly seven out of 10 (68%) nurses say that pay issues aside, male and female nurses are treated equally in the workplace.
“Nurses aren’t in their profession for the money, but it’s entirely understandable that female nurses in particular are concerned about their salary and being paid equally to their male counterparts. Nurses perform the same job duties regardless of their gender. Being a woman should not be a disadvantage when it comes to earning potential in the nursing profession, or in any profession,” said Susan Sanders, DNP, RN, NEA-BC and vice president of nursing, Kaplan Test Prep, who previously served as a hospital chief nursing officer. “Because pay is oft discussed among nurses, it’s an issue that’s not going to go away quietly. Employers need to pay attention to it.”
To view a 25-second video about the survey results, click here.
For more information about Kaplan’s survey, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
*From an e-survey conducted between April 2015 and July 2015 of 5,945 recent nursing school graduates (5,312 women and 633 men) who took a NCLEX-RN® exam prep course with Kaplan Test Prep.
The NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
About Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. Additionally, Kaplan operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC)
