The Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) is pleased to present Registered Nurses Education in Canada Statistics (RNECS), 2022–2023.
This annual report supports health human resources planning in both the nursing service and nursing education sectors. It represents the fruit of a strong partnership among national and provincial/territorial bodies and effective collaborative relationships with multiple contributors.
The report provides data and statistical analysis of
- the number of pre-licensure graduates eligible to apply for initial licensure/registration and enter the registered nurse (RN) workforce;
- the number of RNs obtaining graduate qualifications;
- the number of nurse practitioner (NP) graduates;
- innovations in nursing education program access and delivery;
- the composition of faculty delivering nursing education; and
- faculty retention and recruitment.
Highlights from the report include the following:
- 11,923 students graduated from entry-to-practice programs for registered nurses in 2023 (2,041 Quebec diploma, 457 PN-to-RN bridging, and 9,425 baccalaureate) (graph, page 6), representing a continuous trend upward from the 4,833 who graduated in 2000.
- 19,631 students were admitted to entry-to-practice programs for registered nurses in 2022-2023 (3,869 Quebec diploma, 1,071 PN-to-RN bridging, and 14,691 baccalaureate) (graph, page 5).
- There were 892 graduates from nurse practitioner programs in 2023 (graph, page 12).
- There were 927 admissions to nurse practitioner programs in 20212-2023 (graph, page 12).
- In 2023, schools were unable to fill 78 permanent and long-term contract faculty positions. Schools projected a need to hire 200 permanent and 110 long-term contract faculty positions in 2024.
- 77 permanent faculty retired in 2023.
- Over 40% of schools reported that they have trouble hiring nursing faculty because salaries and benefits aren’t competitive enough.
- 39.1% of schools reported a lack of nurses with PhDs or master’s degrees applying to faculty positions.
