Is Nursing a STEM Field?

If you’re considering a nursing career or already working as a nurse, you have likely wondered: Is nursing a STEM career? Yes. Nursing is primarily considered a STEM field, but the reasons go far deeper than you may think at first glance. 

What is a STEM Career? 

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Careers in STEM fields focus on critical thinking, innovation, problem-solving, and applying science and math principles in the real world. 

Common STEM careers include engineers, biologists, data analysts, software developers, and others. But where does nursing fit? 

Is Nursing Considered a STEM Degree? 

Yes. Nursing is a STEM field because it is heavily grounding in science and technology. Nursing has a strong foundation in science, nurses use technology to provide high levels of patient care and create better outcomes, nurses use critical thinking skills on the job, and nursing is an evidence-based practice. 

Nursing has a strong foundation in science. 

As part of their nursing education, nurses are required to complete core science courses including anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, pharmacology, and others. 

Nurses use technology to provide high levels of care and create better outcomes. 

Nurses today regularly use technology on the job including electronic health records (EHR systems), diagnostic equipment, and medical devices and monitoring systems. Telehealth platforms are also rising in popularity in the healthcare industry. 

Nurses use critical thinking skills on the job

Nurses are responsible for analyzing and interpreting patient data such as vital signs, lab results and medical history. With the information they gain, nurses must then make informed decisions about patient care including the ability to sometimes think quickly and respond under pressure in emergency situations. These are key components of STEM problem-solving. 

Nursing is an evidence-based practice. 

Decisions in nursing are guided by clinical research and data collection. This is another factor that delineates nursing as a STEM field. 

Why Nursing Isn’t Always Considered a STEM Field

Even though the nursing field meets many of the criteria for a STEM career, it is sometimes overlooked in discussion about STEM. This is because it is simply categorized as a healthcare career rather than STEM when it could be considered both. 

Nursing is also a human-centered career with a lot of nurses' time devoted to caregiving. This can overshadow the technical and science-based aspects of the job. However, the perception of nursing as a STEM career is changing as healthcare becomes more data-driven and relies more heavily on technological advancements. 

Benefits of Nursing as a STEM Career

The consideration of nursing as a STEM degree can open doors for both nursing students and nursing professionals already working in the field. Benefits include scholarships and grants, increased opportunities, and paths to advanced STEM roles. 

Access to STEM scholarships and grants

Many organizations offer financial assistance specifically to encourage students to pursue STEM careers. Nursing students may qualify for STEM scholarships, workforce development grants and/or loan forgiveness programs. 

Increased Career Opportunities 

STEM careers are in high demand and are highly-respected. Recognizing nursing as a STEM field highlights job stability, encourages competitive salaries, and offers increased opportunities for specialization in school and in the workforce. 

Pathways to Advanced Roles

Because nursing is becoming increasingly recognized as a STEM career, nurses can expand into advanced STEM-related fields such as: nurse informatics specialist, nurse practitioner, clinical researcher, healthcare data analyst, and other roles. 

The Role of Math in Nursing

Nursing isn’t a STEM career that is heavily math focused, like engineering, however math is still essential to the nursing role. Nurses use math on a daily basis to calculate dosages for medications, calculate IV flow rates, and interpret data that’s been collected for example. Their accuracy is critical because even a small error can have huge implications on patient care and serious consequences. This makes math an extremely important skill for any nursing professional. 

STEM in Modern Nursing Jobs

Many nursing specialties are also deeply focused on traditional STEM principles and further reinforce the position of nursing as a whole in STEM. Some of these specialities include:  

• Informatics Nursing - combines traditional healthcare and data science
• Critical Care Nursing - uses advanced technology for monitoring and life support
• Public Health Nursing - analyzes population data and health trends to make predictions
• Research Nursing - uses data analysis to contribute to clinical trials and scientific studies

Is a Nursing STEM Career For You? 

If you are a person who enjoys science, biology, problem-solving in real time, working with technology, and most of all caring for others, entering a career in nursing or advancing your current nursing career would be a great move for you in the STEM field.  

Nursing continues to solidify itself as a STEM career. The combination of science, technology, critical thinking, and data-driven decision making, make nursing a vital part of the STEM field. And as healthcare continues to evolve in the future, the critical role of nurses in STEM will become more and more prominent.