Gender-Based Disparities in Nursing Compensation

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Health Economics

Background:

• The nursing workforce is critical to healthcare delivery.
• Gender-based pay disparities are a persistent issue in many professions, including nursing.
• Understanding these disparities in Wisconsin is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the findings of the Wisconsin 2024 RN Workforce Survey Report.
• To identify and examine gender-based compensation disparities among registered nurses (RNs) in Wisconsin.
• To inform strategies for promoting pay equity within the state's nursing workforce.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the Wisconsin 2024 RN Workforce Survey Report data.
• Examination of compensation patterns across different genders (women, men, nonbinary).
• Identification of factors influencing pay disparities, including healthcare setting, specialty, and role.

Main Results:

• The report indicates persistent, systemic pay disparities based on gender among RNs in Wisconsin.
• Compensation inequities were observed across various healthcare settings, nursing specialties, and professional roles.
• Specific patterns contributing to these disparities were identified.

Conclusions:

• Addressing gender-based pay inequity in the Wisconsin RN workforce is a priority.
• Strategies should include enforcing existing laws, ensuring wage transparency, and implementing equity-focused policies.
• Further research using micro and longitudinal data is recommended to deepen understanding and guide interventions.