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Cardiac care unit nurse vs staff nurse

The differences between cardiac care unit nurses and staff nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a cardiac care unit nurse and a staff nurse. Additionally, a staff nurse has an average salary of $68,342, which is higher than the $66,525 average annual salary of a cardiac care unit nurse.

The top three skills for a cardiac care unit nurse include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for a staff nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Cardiac care unit nurse vs staff nurse overview

Cardiac Care Unit NurseStaff Nurse
Yearly salary$66,525$68,342
Hourly rate$31.98$32.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs485,400699,636
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Cardiac care unit nurse vs staff nurse salary

Cardiac care unit nurses and staff nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cardiac Care Unit NurseStaff Nurse
Average salary$66,525$68,342
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $109,000Between $42,000 And $109,000
Highest paying City-Burlingame, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between cardiac care unit nurse and staff nurse education

There are a few differences between a cardiac care unit nurse and a staff nurse in terms of educational background:

Cardiac Care Unit NurseStaff Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Cardiac care unit nurse vs staff nurse demographics

Here are the differences between cardiac care unit nurses' and staff nurses' demographics:

Cardiac Care Unit NurseStaff Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 13.8% Female, 86.2%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between cardiac care unit nurse and staff nurse duties and responsibilities

Cardiac care unit nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Train in basic and 12 lead EKG.
  • Identify and recognize the emotional stages the patients and family may experience during hospitalization or cardiac intervention.
  • Provide nursing care to cardiac patients by performing physical assessments, administering medications, and monitoring preoperative and post-operative procedures.
  • Perform and participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Call to verify or fax authorizations for procedures and clinic visits using insurance guidelines such as Medicare and Medicaid.
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Staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.
  • Provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings with an emphasis in critical care and PACU settings.
  • Prepare patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures including initiating intravenous lines, physical assessments and administering medications.
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Cardiac care unit nurse vs staff nurse skills

Common cardiac care unit nurse skills
  • Patients, 32%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Critical Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%

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