Special Report

Cities With the Fewest Nurses

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In a time of true crisis, like the coronavirus pandemic, we find out who are the real heroes and absolute essential workers among us. And no, they’re not CEOs, lawyers, or Wall Street brokers. Rather, they are drivers, food retail workers, and first and foremost, health care workers — many of whom nurses.

Registered nurses make up about 2% of all U.S. employment, and currently, that may not be enough. Hospitals scrounge for health care professionals, especially nurses, to come and help treat the mushrooming numbers of people with COVID-19. Many retired nurses have answered the call.

24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics to identify the metropolitan areas with the fewest nurses per capita in the United States.

More nurses are needed as the number of COVID-19 patients is expected to grow and those who already take care of the sick face a much higher risk of contracting the virus and becoming quarantined. There is an unprecedented demand for “travel nurses,” or nurses from other states, according to Vivian Health, a temporary health care staffing platform. Positions in intensive care units and emergency rooms have opened all over the country.

The adequate nurse-to-patient ratio has always been a much debated topic – some states have a legally defined minimum nurse-to-patient ratios — and it is now clear more than ever why. Due to staffing shortage, nurses in some hospitals’ intensive care units are caring for more than twice the number of COVID-19 patients than the standard of care.

Nationwide, there are about nine registered nurses per 1,000 people. In the 50 cities with the fewest nurses per capita, there are no more than 6.4 nurses per 1,000 people. In cities at the bottom of the list, the ratio is just two or three nurses per 1,000 people.

Click here to see the cities with the fewest nurses
Click here for our methodology

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50. Homosassa Springs, Florida
> Registered nurses: 6.4 per 1,000 people (total: 940)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $62,150
> All health care workers: 33.7 per 1,000 people (total: 4,990)
> Total population: 147,929
> 65 and older population: 36.3% (total: 53,705)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 43
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 2

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49. Santa Fe, New Mexico
> Registered nurses: 6.3 per 1,000 people (total: 950)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $75,270
> All health care workers: 39.4 per 1,000 people (total: 5,910)
> Total population: 150,056
> 65 and older population: 24.3% (total: 36,485)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 62
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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48. Farmington, New Mexico
> Registered nurses: 6.3 per 1,000 people (total: 790)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $70,830
> All health care workers: 42.2 per 1,000 people (total: 5,280)
> Total population: 125,043
> 65 and older population: 14.9% (total: 18,685)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 58
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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47. Decatur, Alabama
> Registered nurses: 6.3 per 1,000 people (total: 960)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $48,260
> All health care workers: 31.5 per 1,000 people (total: 4,790)
> Total population: 152,046
> 65 and older population: 17.7% (total: 26,954)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 33
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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46. Salinas, California
> Registered nurses: 6.3 per 1,000 people (total: 2,740)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $137,950
> All health care workers: 34.6 per 1,000 people (total: 15,050)
> Total population: 435,594
> 65 and older population: 13.6% (total: 59,201)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 62
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 2

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45. Lawrence, Kansas
> Registered nurses: 6.3 per 1,000 people (total: 760)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $60,290
> All health care workers: 32.6 per 1,000 people (total: 3,960)
> Total population: 121,436
> 65 and older population: 12.3% (total: 14,954)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 33
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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44. College Station-Bryan, Texas
> Registered nurses: 6.0 per 1,000 people (total: 1,600)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $69,440
> All health care workers: 28.4 per 1,000 people (total: 7,530)
> Total population: 265,024
> 65 and older population: 10.6% (total: 27,853)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 79
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 5

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43. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Alabama
> Registered nurses: 6.0 per 1,000 people (total: 1,310)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $59,110
> All health care workers: 31.7 per 1,000 people (total: 6,910)
> Total population: 218,022
> 65 and older population: 20.4% (total: 44,571)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 34
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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42. Sheboygan, Wisconsin
> Registered nurses: 6.0 per 1,000 people (total: 690)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $68,780
> All health care workers: 42.8 per 1,000 people (total: 4,940)
> Total population: 115,456
> 65 and older population: 18.0% (total: 20,789)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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41. Prescott, Arizona
> Registered nurses: 5.9 per 1,000 people (total: 1,380)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $78,230
> All health care workers: 35.5 per 1,000 people (total: 8,240)
> Total population: 231,993
> 65 and older population: 31.6% (total: 73,278)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 45
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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40. Stockton-Lodi, California
> Registered nurses: 5.9 per 1,000 people (total: 4,470)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $114,770
> All health care workers: 35.5 per 1,000 people (total: 26,720)
> Total population: 752,660
> 65 and older population: 12.7% (total: 95,916)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 203
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 11

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39. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
> Registered nurses: 5.9 per 1,000 people (total: 5,120)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $66,900
> All health care workers: 68.4 per 1,000 people (total: 59,210)
> Total population: 865,939
> 65 and older population: 11.1% (total: 96,025)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 86
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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38. Dalton, Georgia
> Registered nurses: 5.9 per 1,000 people (total: 850)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $61,540
> All health care workers: 32.9 per 1,000 people (total: 4,740)
> Total population: 143,983
> 65 and older population: 14.3% (total: 20,551)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 25
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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37. Bakersfield, California
> Registered nurses: 5.9 per 1,000 people (total: 5,290)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $92,570
> All health care workers: 31.5 per 1,000 people (total: 28,220)
> Total population: 896,764
> 65 and older population: 11.0% (total: 98,347)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 225
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 2

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36. Auburn-Opelika, Alabama
> Registered nurses: 5.9 per 1,000 people (total: 960)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $59,350
> All health care workers: 27.3 per 1,000 people (total: 4,470)
> Total population: 163,941
> 65 and older population: 11.9% (total: 19,481)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 110
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 3

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35. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Florida
> Registered nurses: 5.8 per 1,000 people (total: 1,630)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $58,380
> All health care workers: 29.8 per 1,000 people (total: 8,300)
> Total population: 278,644
> 65 and older population: 17.2% (total: 47,866)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 84
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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34. Las Cruces, New Mexico
> Registered nurses: 5.8 per 1,000 people (total: 1,270)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $69,180
> All health care workers: 47.1 per 1,000 people (total: 10,240)
> Total population: 217,522
> 65 and older population: 15.8% (total: 34,338)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 29
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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33. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, Virginia
> Registered nurses: 5.8 per 1,000 people (total: 1,060)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $60,980
> All health care workers: 30.3 per 1,000 people (total: 5,510)
> Total population: 181,926
> 65 and older population: 15.9% (total: 29,246)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 08
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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32. The Villages, Florida
> Registered nurses: 5.8 per 1,000 people (total: 750)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $64,680
> All health care workers: 28.0 per 1,000 people (total: 3,610)
> Total population: 128,754
> 65 and older population: 57.6% (total: 74,146)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 75
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 3

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31. Logan, Utah, Idaho
> Registered nurses: 5.7 per 1,000 people (total: 810)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $61,840
> All health care workers: 29.6 per 1,000 people (total: 4,190)
> Total population: 141,476
> 65 and older population: 9.9% (total: 13,952)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 19
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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30. Ocala, Florida
> Registered nurses: 5.6 per 1,000 people (total: 2,020)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $62,480
> All health care workers: 34.1 per 1,000 people (total: 12,280)
> Total population: 359,977
> 65 and older population: 28.9% (total: 104,178)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 50
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 2

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29. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, South Carolina
> Registered nurses: 5.6 per 1,000 people (total: 1,220)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $66,860
> All health care workers: 35.2 per 1,000 people (total: 7,670)
> Total population: 217,686
> 65 and older population: 26.2% (total: 57,052)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 165
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 4

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28. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, California
> Registered nurses: 5.6 per 1,000 people (total: 4,730)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $95,310
> All health care workers: 36.9 per 1,000 people (total: 31,400)
> Total population: 850,967
> 65 and older population: 15.6% (total: 132,387)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 221
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 6

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27. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida
> Registered nurses: 5.5 per 1,000 people (total: 3,860)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $60,760
> All health care workers: 27.4 per 1,000 people (total: 19,400)
> Total population: 708,009
> 65 and older population: 20.2% (total: 143,142)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 157
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 4

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26. Provo-Orem, Utah
> Registered nurses: 5.4 per 1,000 people (total: 3,430)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $63,510
> All health care workers: 31.5 per 1,000 people (total: 19,960)
> Total population: 632,705
> 65 and older population: 7.8% (total: 49,447)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 217
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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25. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, North Carolina
> Registered nurses: 5.4 per 1,000 people (total: 2,600)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $63,140
> All health care workers: 29.1 per 1,000 people (total: 14,000)
> Total population: 480,891
> 65 and older population: 26.1% (total: 125,501)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 88
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 6

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24. Grants Pass, Oregon
> Registered nurses: 5.4 per 1,000 people (total: 470)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $87,100
> All health care workers: 44.4 per 1,000 people (total: 3,880)
> Total population: 87,393
> 65 and older population: 26.0% (total: 22,709)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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23. Bremerton-Silverdale, Washington
> Registered nurses: 5.4 per 1,000 people (total: 1,450)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $81,630
> All health care workers: 29.7 per 1,000 people (total: 8,020)
> Total population: 269,805
> 65 and older population: 17.8% (total: 48,094)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 102
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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22. Warner Robins, Georgia
> Registered nurses: 5.4 per 1,000 people (total: 1,040)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $63,410
> All health care workers: 29.5 per 1,000 people (total: 5,720)
> Total population: 193,729
> 65 and older population: 13.7% (total: 26,632)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 81
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 7

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21. Morristown, Tennessee
> Registered nurses: 5.3 per 1,000 people (total: 630)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $54,290
> All health care workers: 31.0 per 1,000 people (total: 3,680)
> Total population: 118,581
> 65 and older population: 19.2% (total: 22,741)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 10
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

20. Burlington, North Carolina
> Registered nurses: 5.3 per 1,000 people (total: 880)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $00
> All health care workers: 43.6 per 1,000 people (total: 7,260)
> Total population: 166,436
> 65 and older population: 16.9% (total: 28,127)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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19. El Centro, California
> Registered nurses: 5.3 per 1,000 people (total: 960)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $88,200
> All health care workers: 42.1 per 1,000 people (total: 7,650)
> Total population: 181,827
> 65 and older population: 13.0% (total: 23,580)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 57
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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18. Yuba City, California
> Registered nurses: 5.3 per 1,000 people (total: 920)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $121,450
> All health care workers: 34.9 per 1,000 people (total: 6,100)
> Total population: 174,848
> 65 and older population: 14.2% (total: 24,857)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 26
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 2

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17. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California
> Registered nurses: 5.1 per 1,000 people (total: 1,410)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $142,930
> All health care workers: 39.2 per 1,000 people (total: 10,750)
> Total population: 274,255
> 65 and older population: 16.5% (total: 45,127)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 69
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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16. Yuma, Arizona
> Registered nurses: 5.1 per 1,000 people (total: 1,090)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $74,930
> All health care workers: 23.4 per 1,000 people (total: 4,970)
> Total population: 212,128
> 65 and older population: 18.8% (total: 39,828)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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15. Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona
> Registered nurses: 5.1 per 1,000 people (total: 1,070)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $68,850
> All health care workers: 26.7 per 1,000 people (total: 5,600)
> Total population: 209,550
> 65 and older population: 30.3% (total: 63,526)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 16
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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14. Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas
> Registered nurses: 5.1 per 1,000 people (total: 2,160)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $69,730
> All health care workers: 69.8 per 1,000 people (total: 29,590)
> Total population: 423,908
> 65 and older population: 13.5% (total: 57,415)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 77
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

13. Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
> Registered nurses: 5.0 per 1,000 people (total: 3,380)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $64,110
> All health care workers: 30.8 per 1,000 people (total: 20,830)
> Total population: 676,948
> 65 and older population: 10.9% (total: 73,705)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 210
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 3

12. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
> Registered nurses: 5.0 per 1,000 people (total: 510)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $69,300
> All health care workers: 29.4 per 1,000 people (total: 3,020)
> Total population: 102,811
> 65 and older population: 20.4% (total: 20,954)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 22
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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11. Laredo, Texas
> Registered nurses: 4.7 per 1,000 people (total: 1,290)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $68,920
> All health care workers: 49.2 per 1,000 people (total: 13,580)
> Total population: 275,910
> 65 and older population: 9.5% (total: 26,087)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 102
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 6

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10. Albany, Oregon
> Registered nurses: 4.6 per 1,000 people (total: 590)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $77,940
> All health care workers: 34.4 per 1,000 people (total: 4,380)
> Total population: 127,335
> 65 and older population: 18.6% (total: 23,671)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 43
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 2

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9. Visalia-Porterville, California
> Registered nurses: 4.4 per 1,000 people (total: 2,050)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $90,540
> All health care workers: 31.0 per 1,000 people (total: 14,440)
> Total population: 465,861
> 65 and older population: 11.4% (total: 53,292)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 116
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 5

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8. Cleveland, Tennessee
> Registered nurses: 4.3 per 1,000 people (total: 540)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $53,690
> All health care workers: 25.9 per 1,000 people (total: 3,230)
> Total population: 124,748
> 65 and older population: 17.6% (total: 21,819)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 24
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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7. Sierra Vista-Douglas, Arizona
> Registered nurses: 4.3 per 1,000 people (total: 540)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $67,790
> All health care workers: 20.0 per 1,000 people (total: 2,530)
> Total population: 126,770
> 65 and older population: 22.3% (total: 28,326)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 08
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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6. Clarksville, Tennessee, Kentucky
> Registered nurses: 4.0 per 1,000 people (total: 1,150)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $64,040
> All health care workers: 26.3 per 1,000 people (total: 7,640)
> Total population: 290,745
> 65 and older population: 10.6% (total: 31,055)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 74
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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5. Monroe, Michigan
> Registered nurses: 3.9 per 1,000 people (total: 590)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $69,120
> All health care workers: 24.0 per 1,000 people (total: 3,610)
> Total population: 150,439
> 65 and older population: 18.1% (total: 27,262)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 108
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

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4. Greeley, Colorado
> Registered nurses: 3.7 per 1,000 people (total: 1,170)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $68,960
> All health care workers: 20.8 per 1,000 people (total: 6,530)
> Total population: 314,305
> 65 and older population: 12.2% (total: 38,224)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 470
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 24

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3. Jacksonville, North Carolina
> Registered nurses: 3.7 per 1,000 people (total: 730)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $63,210
> All health care workers: 17.8 per 1,000 people (total: 3,510)
> Total population: 197,683
> 65 and older population: 9.2% (total: 18,266)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 16
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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2. Merced, California
> Registered nurses: 3.1 per 1,000 people (total: 860)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $101,040
> All health care workers: 26.8 per 1,000 people (total: 7,370)
> Total population: 274,765
> 65 and older population: 11.2% (total: 30,845)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 29
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 1

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1. Hinesville, Georgia
> Registered nurses: 2.1 per 1,000 people (total: 170)
> Registered nurse, annual median wage: $69,680
> All health care workers: 15.7 per 1,000 people (total: 1,260)
> Total population: 80,008
> 65 and older population: 9.3% (total: 7,520)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 4/5/2020: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 deaths as of 4/5/2020: 0

To identify the cities with the fewest nurses per capita, 24/7 Tempo calculated the number of registered nurses per 1,000 people in U.S. metropolitan statistical areas using 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) database and from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey (ACS). For reference, there are approximately 9.1 registered nurses for every 1,000 people in the United States.

Annual median wages for registered nurses and employment figures for respiratory therapists also came from the OES. We estimated the total number of health care workers in each MSA by adding employment totals for two broad occupations: health care practitioners and technical occupations, and health care support occupations. Registered nurses are classified under health care practitioners and technical occupations.

The percentage of each MSA’s population aged 65 and over came from The County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Each MSA’s number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and confirmed COVID-19 deaths came from The New York Times and are as of April 5, 2020.

Data from the BLS on the number of registered nurses for 2019 is not available for the following 25 metro areas: Albany, GA, Bellingham, WA, Billings, MT, California-Lexington Park, MD, Corvallis, OR, Flagstaff, AZ, Fond du Lac, WI, Gainesville, GA, Glens Falls, NY, Grand Forks, ND-MN, Grand, Island, NE, Great Falls, MT, Hanford-Corcoran, CA, Harrisonburg, VA, Hattiesburg, MS, Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI, Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, Longview, WA, Madera, CA, Midland, MI, Muskegon, MI, Rochester, MN, Sebring, FL, Texarkana, TX-AR, Walla Walla, WA.

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