A study to detect the presence of racial/ethnic pay disparities among registered nurses (rns) in U.S. hospitals.
详细信息
文摘
For this research study,a regression decomposition of hospital RN salaries was conducted to detect the presence of racial/ethnic pay disparities for hospital RNs working in the most populous metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. Regression decomposition compares two groups and disaggregates the total economic value of human capital and job characteristics into constituent direct and indirect monetary worth. Differences in the value of the same characteristic by various racial/ethnic groups have been commonly used as a measure of discrimination in earnings. The data for this analysis were drawn from the 2008 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN),a federally funded survey of RNs which was conducted every four years from 1977 through 2008. The analysis found that both Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino hospital RNs,who are underrepresented in nursing compared to their presence in the population,earned less than non-Hispanic White hospital RNs,while Asian/Pacific Islander hospital RNs earned more than non-Hispanic Whites. Specifically,Hispanic/Latino RNs earned $1.91 less than non-Hispanic White RNs,Black/African American RNs earned $.73 less than non-Hispanic White RNs； and Asian/Pacific Islander RNs earned $.89 more than non-Hispanic White RNs. The findings indicate that 1) pay disparities exist between underrepresented minority hospital RNs,i.e.,Black/African American RNs and Hispanic/Latino RNs compared to Asian/Pacific Islander RNs and non-Hispanic White RNs； 2) these disparities could not be fully explained by controlling for the relevant characteristics of these RNs； and 3) characteristics of hospital RNs usually associated with higher earnings did not produce the same levels of reward in terms of earnings for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino hospital RNs compared to non-Hispanic White and Asian/Pacific Islander hospital RNs. Policy implications of this research study strongly suggest the need for a greater commitment to nursing workforce diversity from providers,educators,and the profession itself. Strategies to increase diversity and reduce pay disparities include increasing recruitment of Blacks/African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos into registered nursing； supporting career development for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino RNs,including both educational and professional advancement； and increasing the presence of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino RNs in nursing leadership positions.