Using data from the 2004 California Board of Registered Nursing Survey, a two-stage least-square equation was estimated to examine the effect of wages on hours worked by female registered nurses. Wages were found to have a nonlinear effect on hours worked, with a backward bending supply curve. Wages had a positive effect on the average hours worked per week up to $24.99 per hour and a negative effect between $30.00 and $100.00 per hour when compared with the wage category of $25.00 to $29.99. Results suggest that wages are important to secure the labor supply but do not increase aggregate supply beyond a wage threshold.

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This study investigates the effect of the Recession of 2007 on nurses' wages, demographics, human capital, and work environment characteristics using data from the California Board of Registered Nursing Surveys of 2006, 2008 and 2010. Findings suggest that the labor force is maximized, with nurses working as much as they can on their primary nursing positions (51 weeks a year). As the economy recovers, the nurse shortage will resurge. Intense focus in three policy areas is recommended: education, faculty training, and recruitment and retention of African Americans, Hispanics, and older nurses.

Using data from the California Board of Registered Nursing Surveys of 1997, 2004, 2006 and 2008, this study explores demographic, human capital, and work environment changes in the Hispanic RN population and compared these changes to those occurring among non-Hispanic Whites. Results find several significant differences between the two groups. The most important finding is that Hispanic RNs enter and leave the profession at younger ages than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. There is an abrupt decrease in the proportion of Hispanic RNs after age 50, while the proportion non-Hispanic White continues to increase until age 65. Decided action is needed to increase recruitment and retention of Hispanic RNs in order to increase nurse-patient concordance and abate the looming nurse shortage.