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Circulating nurse vs operating room nurse

The differences between circulating nurses and operating room 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 an operating room nurse. Additionally, a circulating nurse has an average salary of $74,535, which is higher than the $68,255 average annual salary of an operating room nurse.

The top three skills for a circulating nurse include patients, BLS and plastic surgery. The most important skills for an operating room nurse are patients, BLS, and acls.

Circulating nurse vs operating room nurse overview

Circulating NurseOperating Room Nurse
Yearly salary$74,535$68,255
Hourly rate$35.83$32.81
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs580,481545,487
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Circulating nurse vs operating room nurse salary

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

Circulating NurseOperating Room Nurse
Average salary$74,535$68,255
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $121,000Between $42,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City-Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between circulating nurse and operating room nurse education

There are a few differences between a circulating nurse and an operating room nurse in terms of educational background:

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

Circulating nurse vs operating room nurse demographics

Here are the differences between circulating nurses' and operating room nurses' demographics:

Circulating NurseOperating Room Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.6% Female, 85.4%Male, 14.8% Female, 85.2%
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, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between circulating nurse and operating room 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.
  • Show more

Operating room nurse example responsibilities.

  • Post op surgery assist recovery nurse with obtaining vitals signs and attaching EKG leads and oxygen.
  • Achieve departmental goals and objectives by instituting SGNA standards and processes for inpatient and outpatient care.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • General surgery, ortho, GU, GI and ENT and dentals.
  • Complete BLS and ACLS certification.
  • Specialize in GYN, urology and orthopedics.
  • Show more

Circulating nurse vs operating room nurse skills

Common circulating nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Plastic Surgery, 7%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Anesthesia, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
Common operating room nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • BLS, 13%
  • Acls, 7%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • PACU, 3%
  • Pre-op, 3%

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