Nurse Workforce Studies for the California Board of Registered Nursing

UCSF has conducted studies of the supply, education, and other aspects of California’s nursing workforce for the California Board of Registered Nursing since 2005.

Every two years, Healthforce researchers conduct the Survey of Registered Nurses, which provides detailed information about nurse employment, education, satisfaction, and career plans. This data can be found on a dedicated website

Each year, the Annual Schools Survey provides information about enrollments, graduations, student demographics, faculty, and other aspects of California’s RN education programs. Interactive data charts can be viewed here.

Additional studies are conducted as requested by the Board, including a survey of advanced practice registered nurses, a study of nurses disciplined by the Board, research on the diversity of California’s RN workforce, and a survey of the effect of simulation education on nurse readiness for practice.

Healthforce researchers use the data to independently complete additional research to better understand the RN workforce.  

A variety of data and publications related to the supply and demand of RNs in California can be found here.

2019-2020 Annual School Report: A Presentation of Post-Licensure Nursing Programs in California

2019-2020 Annual School Report: Data Summary and Historical Trend Analysis, A Presentation for Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs in California

2019-2020 Annual School Report: Data Summary for Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs

2018 Survey of Registered Nurses (2020)

2018-2019 Annual School Report: Data Summary for Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs (2020)

2018-2019 Annual School Report: Data Summary and Historical Trend Analysis (2020)

Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in California (2019)

Diversity in California's Nursing Workforce Chartbook (2018)

Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in California (2017)

Annual School Report: Data Summary and Historical Trend Analysis (2016-2017)

Survey of Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse-Midwives

Improving collection and use of interprofessional health workforce data: Progress and peril

California Board of Registered Nursing 2016 Survey of Registered Nurses (2017)

California Board of Registered Nursing 2015 Simulation in Nursing Education Survey (2016)

Effect of Prior Health-Related Employment on the Registered Nurse Workforce Supply

The Impact of Economic Recession on Registered Nurse Workforce Supply in California

Annual School Regional Reports

2013-2014 Annual School Report (2015)

2012-2013 Annual School Report (2014)

Survey of Nurses’ Educational Experiences, 2013 (2014)

2011-2012 Annual School Report (2013)


2012 Survey of Registered Nurses (2013)

The Diversity of California’s Registered Nursing Workforce – 2013 Update (2013)

Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in California (2013)

The Diversity of California’s Registered Nursing Workforce (2012)

2009-2010 Annual School Report (2011)

A Study of California Nurses Placed on Probation (2011)

2010 Survey of Clinical Nurse Specialists (2011)

2010 Survey of Nurse Practitioners and Certified Nurse Midwives (2011)

2010 Survey of Registered Nurses (2011)

Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in California (2011)

Nurses Who Do Not Nurse: Factors that Predict Non-Nursing Work in the U.S. Registered Nursing Labor Market (2010)

2007-2008 Annual School Report (2009)

2008 Survey of Registered Nurses (2009)

Do Wages Matter? A Backward Bend in the 2004 California RN Labor Supply (2009)

The Movement of Registered Nurses Into and Out of California (2008)

Nurse Satisfaction and the Implementation of Minimum Nurse Staffing Regulations (2008)

Nurses Working Outside of Nursing: Societal Trend or Workplace Crisis? (2008)

2005-2006 Annual School Report (2007)

2006 Survey of Registered Nurses (2007)

For more information, please contact Joanne Spetz.