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Cardiac care unit nurse vs surgical nurse

The differences between cardiac care unit nurses and surgical 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 surgical nurse. Additionally, a cardiac care unit nurse has an average salary of $66,525, which is higher than the $64,025 average annual salary of a surgical nurse.

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

Cardiac care unit nurse vs surgical nurse overview

Cardiac Care Unit NurseSurgical Nurse
Yearly salary$66,525$64,025
Hourly rate$31.98$30.78
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs485,400638,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Cardiac care unit nurse vs surgical nurse salary

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

Cardiac Care Unit NurseSurgical Nurse
Average salary$66,525$64,025
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $109,000Between $39,000 And $103,000
Highest paying City-Thousand Oaks, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between cardiac care unit nurse and surgical nurse education

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

Cardiac Care Unit NurseSurgical Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Cardiac care unit nurse vs surgical nurse demographics

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

Cardiac Care Unit NurseSurgical Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 13.8% Female, 86.2%Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
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, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between cardiac care unit nurse and surgical 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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Surgical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage GI bleeds, asthmatics, bowel resections, fractures, patients with chest and feeding tubes.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Maintain BLS, NRP, ACLS
  • Prepare patients for procedures, initiate and maintain intravenous therapy, and obtain 12-lead EKG.
  • Establish care plans and perform care for ICU, CCU, cardiac, and neurological patients.
  • Serve as a BLS/ ACLS instructor.
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Cardiac care unit nurse vs surgical nurse skills

Common cardiac care unit nurse skills
  • Patients, 32%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Critical Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common surgical nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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