The health care industry has undergone tremendous upheaval in the past 20 years, from hospital mergers to the growth of uncompensated care and increase in U.S. health spending.

Here is a snapshot of current trends in the healthcare industry (click on the links to learn more):

• U.S. health spending is projected to rise to more than $3 trillion by 2012.
  Overview of the U.S. Health Care System, 2005

• The total number of hospitals in the U.S. has declined nearly 20 percent from 1975 to 2003.
  The Hospital Industry, 2005

• Of the 2.4 million RNs in the U.S., 472,000 (19.5 percent) are represented by a union, compared to only 14.3 percent of the overall U.S. workforce.
  RN Unionization, 2005

• In 2003, on average RNs earned $46,748 annually compared to $349,700 (cash compensation) earned by CEOs of freestanding hospitals.
  Measures of RN Compensation

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that RN employment will grow by more than 27 percent from 2002 to 2012.
  Employment and Projected Employment of RNs, 2002-2012