Certified Nurse vs Registered Nurse

A registered nurse has a broad list of duties in a hospital setting. These include activities such as preparing patients for exams and treatments, administering medications, operating and monitoring medical equipment, educating patients and their family members on treatment, and supervising practical and vocational nurses.

The main difference between a certified nurse and a registered nurse is that a certified nurse is subordinate to a registered nurse. Here are some other key differences between the two:

• Registered nurses can be certified in an area of speciality, such as critical care, operating room, oncology, and many more

• Certified nurses only perform basic nurse functions and are not certified in any specific fields

• Certified nurses often take orders from and help registered nurses

• Certified nurses perform tasks such as bathing patients, helping patients use the toilet, checking vital signs, and assisting patients as they eat meals

• Registered nurses perform a greater role in patient care and treatment, they take medical histories and assess the patients' conditions, work with doctors and set up treatment plans, and then carry out treatment plans, as well as administering medications and monitoring medical equipment

• A registered nurse also has a higher salary than a certified nurse