Nursing has a high divorce rate

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So this came to my attention after my husband has brought it up after hearing it from a few people, that nurses have a high divorce rate... So I went to look it up and nurses do rank around 30% and are usually on the top "whatever" divorce list.... I don't know why but I found it extremely interesting and absurd (why absurd I don't know!) Just curious to see your takes on it?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Isn't the divorce rate around 50% on average?

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Specializes in critical care.

Well, I think there are a ton of confounding variables here. Awhile back, I did a poll asking how many nurses are married to law enforcement officers. Last time I saw it bumped, it was a large percentage. So, if law enforcement has a high divorce rate, is it the nurse or the LEO?

High stress jobs which require hypervigilance will affect a person. So will seeing tragedy all the time. Are we talking inpatient? ED? Critical care? Peds? They each have different characteristics.

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Specializes in critical care.
Isn't the divorce rate around 50% on average?

I think she's saying 30% of the total divorces are nurses.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I think she's saying 30% of the total divorces are nurses.

I find that difficult to believe. I think I need a citation.

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

Consider also that nursing is a profession with a good income compared with others. I would say the divorce rate could be higher because the nurse in the couple can afford to leave. I had a nurse coworker, Who had to pay her husband alimony because her income was so much higher than his.

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I think she's saying 30% of the total divorces are nurses.

When I looked it up I think I typed nurse divorce rate, it was that 20-30 ( depending on what source you read) of nurses get a divorce.

I was just curious of other people's thoughts on the matter

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

The actual first-time divorce rate in the US is around 35-40%. I have not done any studies on nurses, but most of the ones I know are still married to their original partners. The rate of failed marriages seems to pretty much be the same as any other occupation.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Consider also that nursing is a profession with a good income compared with others. I would say the divorce rate could be higher because the nurse in the couple can afford to leave. I had a nurse coworker, Who had to pay her husband alimony because her income was so much higher than his.

That's a good point. I know of a LOT of stay-at-home-moms who are stuck in a bad marriage because they have no means to support themselves/their children if they left.

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Well, I think there are a ton of confounding variables here. Awhile back, I did a poll asking how many nurses are married to law enforcement officers. Last time I saw it bumped, it was a large percentage. So, if law enforcement has a high divorce rate, is it the nurse or the LEO?

Oh, it's the LEO. Definitely. :roflmao:

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
When I looked it up I think I typed nurse divorce rate, it was that 20-30 ( depending on what source you read) of nurses get a divorce.

That is lower than the national average, then, if the average divorce rate is 40%.

I know with second marriages, the divorce rate is something like 75-80%. Husband and I are bucking the odds - 10 years strong and happier now than the day we married.

And I wasn't yet a nurse when I divorced the first time. :)

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Well, I think there are a ton of confounding variables here. Awhile back, I did a poll asking how many nurses are married to law enforcement officers. Last time I saw it bumped, it was a large percentage. So, if law enforcement has a high divorce rate, is it the nurse or the LEO?

High stress jobs which require hypervigilance will affect a person. So will seeing tragedy all the time. Are we talking inpatient? ED? Critical care? Peds? They each have different characteristics.

That's true, LEO where on the "top" list as well. I am also married to one! But that's a good point about the area/specialties and what they have to deal with.

Once again I was just curious on everyone's talk of the topic I'm not saying this is fact or anything it came up and I was curious of y'alls take on it. Here is one of the many articles I was browsing through, I have no clue about all the mumbo jumbo I just googled and found this one (not saying it's 100% no holes legit I didn't analyze it)

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