Relative Wages and the Market for Nursing Instructors

Abstract

Given the reported difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified instructors, this paper examines the earnings of RNs involved in nursing instruction. Using data from the quadrennial National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses for 1988 through 2008, a large decrease in relative wage is found for RN instructors relative to other RNs working outside of education. In addition, early in the sample period RNs whose primary job was in teaching earn a wage advantage in their second job, but this wage differential goes to zero by 2008. This is interpreted as the effect of more able nurses moving out of teaching as relative wage opportunities increased.

Keywords: Nursing, Wage Differentials

JEL Classification: I11, J31