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Circulating nurse vs registered professional nurse

The differences between circulating nurses and registered professional 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 registered professional nurse. Additionally, a circulating nurse has an average salary of $74,535, which is higher than the $73,268 average annual salary of a registered professional nurse.

The top three skills for a circulating nurse include patients, BLS and plastic surgery. The most important skills for a registered professional nurse are patients, BLS, and patient safety.

Circulating nurse vs registered professional nurse overview

Circulating NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Yearly salary$74,535$73,268
Hourly rate$35.83$35.23
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs580,481681,526
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Circulating nurse vs registered professional nurse salary

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

Circulating NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Average salary$74,535$73,268
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $121,000Between $43,000 And $124,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Accountable Healthcare Holdings Corp.
Best paying industry-Utilities

Differences between circulating nurse and registered professional nurse education

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

Circulating NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Circulating nurse vs registered professional nurse demographics

Here are the differences between circulating nurses' and registered professional nurses' demographics:

Circulating NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.6% Female, 85.4%Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between circulating nurse and registered professional 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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Registered professional nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide direct patient care to but not limit to acute, palliative care, and oncology patients.
  • Provide telemetry monitoring for cardiac patients.
  • Involve in prescribing patients individual rehabilitation programs in conjunction with staff exercise physiologists and helping patients meet their expect goals.
  • Provide excellent and compassionate ICU patient care.
  • Assist ICU manager with scheduling and work assignments.
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Circulating nurse vs registered professional nurse skills

Common circulating nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Plastic Surgery, 7%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Anesthesia, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
Common registered professional nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Patient Safety, 11%
  • Acls, 6%
  • EKG, 4%
  • Compassion, 3%

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