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Circulating nurse vs head nurse

The differences between circulating nurses and head 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 circulating nurse and a head nurse. Additionally, a head nurse has an average salary of $80,173, which is higher than the $74,535 average annual salary of a circulating nurse.

The top three skills for a circulating nurse include patients, BLS and plastic surgery. The most important skills for a head nurse are patients, BLS, and compassion.

Circulating nurse vs head nurse overview

Circulating NurseHead Nurse
Yearly salary$74,535$80,173
Hourly rate$35.83$38.54
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs580,481649,127
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Circulating nurse vs head nurse salary

Circulating nurses and head nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Circulating NurseHead Nurse
Average salary$74,535$80,173
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $121,000Between $48,000 And $132,000
Highest paying City-Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-AstraZeneca
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between circulating nurse and head nurse education

There are a few differences between a circulating nurse and a head nurse in terms of educational background:

Circulating NurseHead Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Circulating nurse vs head nurse demographics

Here are the differences between circulating nurses' and head nurses' demographics:

Circulating NurseHead Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.6% Female, 85.4%Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between circulating nurse and head nurse duties and responsibilities

Circulating nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Monitor vital signs in PACU and review discharge instructions to caretaker regarding procedure.
  • Circulate ENT, plastics, GYN, GI, general, and orthopedic cases.
  • Circulate mostly GU and GYN cases
  • Assist in Pre-Op as needed.
  • Assist in endoscopy for EGDS, Colonoscopys, and ERCPs.
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Head nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Receive intensive training for critical care skill development upon transferring to the medical ICU.
  • Perform advanced nursing care to acute/chronic medical/surgical, cardiac, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic and oncology/ hematology patients.
  • Certify staff in CPR and blood glucose monitoring.
  • Develop and implement an intensive care class for the staff; implement ACLS class for all staff.
  • Develop process improvement plan with bundles for sedation and ventilation.
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Circulating nurse vs head nurse skills

Common circulating nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Plastic Surgery, 7%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Anesthesia, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
Common head nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 9%
  • Compassion, 6%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Acls, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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