ShiftKey, a technology marketplace company, released findings from its report “Social Media, Gen Z and the Future of Nursing.”
A press release on the report says that “ShiftKey’s new study on the future of the healthcare workforce surveyed 1,000 Gen Z (ages 18-26) respondents who are in the nursing profession or had previously considered the career ― the report looked to gather information on what influenced their decision. The data underscores the impact that social media, particularly TikTok, is having on Gen Z’s work decisions. Social media is the top source of information in future nurses' career decisions ― 66% use social media for career research, and 16% rate it as their most influential source of work information, which is more than family, school, and friends.”
Further, “ShiftKey conducted an analysis of nursing-related content on TikTok from November 2023 to May 2024, finding approximately 749,000 posts. Of these posts, 64% were negative vs 36% positive. While social media can provide valuable insights, algorithms can often present a skewed or unrealistic view of the nursing profession, potentially deterring individuals from pursuing it.”
The press release adds that Gen Z'ers who chose nursing are 12% more likely to have immediate family in nursing than those who declined to pursue the profession.
Additional highlights from the report include:
- 78% of Gen Z'ers who avoided nursing say more positive social media content about the profession could have impacted their decision
- 65% of respondents say they have a favorite TV show about nursing or medicine, but Gen Z'ers who chose nursing are 13% more likely to count a nursing show as a favorite than those who passed on the profession
- 87% of Gen Z'ers currently considering nursing are impacted by mental health considerations
- 87% are also impacted by the hours and flexibility of a nursing career.
- 91% of Gen Z'ers considering nursing say they're influenced by the ability to make a difference in people’s lives
