This box lives at Nursing Subject Guide > Finding Health Sciences Resources
It is included on the Statistics & Data page of the Nursing Library Module Canvas Module
As a nursing student, it’s important to understand the difference between data and statistics. Data refers to raw numbers collected through observation, surveys, or testing—like the population count from a census. These numbers are factual but don’t tell a full story on their own. Statistics, on the other hand, involve analyzing and interpreting that data to find meaning or trends—like comparing population growth across states. In nursing, this distinction matters because you’ll use data to track patient outcomes and statistics to make informed decisions, improve care, and understand research findings.
Example:
At a global level, 7 of the 10 leading causes of deaths in 2021 were noncommunicable diseases, accounting for 38% of all deaths, or 68% of the top 10 causes. (World Health Organization's The top 10 leading causes of death) 
Understanding statistics is a game-changer for nursing students. It helps you make smarter clinical decisions, like spotting patterns in patient data or knowing when a treatment is working. Stats also give you the tools to read and apply research, which is the foundation of evidence-based care. Whether you're improving patient safety, educating patients about their health, or contributing to nursing research, being comfortable with data makes you a stronger, more confident nurse. Even legends like Florence Nightingale used statistics to revolutionize healthcare—now it's your turn.