Post job

Circulating nurse vs surgical nurse

The differences between circulating 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 circulating nurse and a surgical nurse. Additionally, a circulating nurse has an average salary of $74,535, which is higher than the $64,025 average annual salary of a surgical nurse.

The top three skills for a circulating nurse include patients, BLS and plastic surgery. The most important skills for a surgical nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Circulating nurse vs surgical nurse overview

Circulating NurseSurgical Nurse
Yearly salary$74,535$64,025
Hourly rate$35.83$30.78
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs580,481638,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Circulating nurse vs surgical nurse salary

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

Circulating NurseSurgical Nurse
Average salary$74,535$64,025
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $121,000Between $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 circulating nurse and surgical nurse education

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

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

Circulating nurse vs surgical nurse demographics

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

Circulating NurseSurgical Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.6% Female, 85.4%Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
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, 12.0% 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 circulating nurse and surgical 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

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.
  • Show more

Circulating nurse vs surgical nurse skills

Common circulating nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Plastic Surgery, 7%
  • Infection Control, 5%
  • Anesthesia, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
Common surgical nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs