Clinical physician assistant vs operating room nurse

The differences between clinical physician assistants and operating room nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical physician assistant has an average salary of $145,549, which is higher than the $68,255 average annual salary of an operating room nurse.

The top three skills for a clinical physician assistant include patients, primary care and medical care. The most important skills for an operating room nurse are patients, BLS, and acls.

Clinical physician assistant vs operating room nurse overview

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Operating Room Nurse
Yearly salary	$145,549	$68,255
Hourly rate	$69.98	$32.81
Growth rate	28%	6%
Number of jobs	94,210	545,487
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	39	44
Years of experience	-	2

What does a clinical physician assistant do?

A clinical physician assistant is in charge of performing support tasks in clinics, hospitals, and similar establishments. Typically serving as the patients' first point of contact, it is their responsibility to gather the personal and medical information of patients, identify their needs, answer inquiries, and escort them to offices and other rooms. They may also perform clerical tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, preparing and filing documentation, and coordinating with other offices. Moreover, a clinical physician assistant must maintain an active communication line with physicians and nurses, assisting them as needed.

What does an operating room nurse do?

An Operating Room Nurse assists surgeons during operations and keeps the operating room sterile at all times. They ensure that patients are ready for transport to the recovery room.

Clinical physician assistant vs operating room nurse salary

Clinical physician assistants and operating room nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Operating Room Nurse
Average salary	$145,549	$68,255
Salary range	Between $84,000 And $252,000	Between $42,000 And $108,000
Highest paying City	Duluth, MN	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Hawaii
Best paying company	Central Ohio Primary Care	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Non Profits	Professional

Differences between clinical physician assistant and operating room nurse education

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

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Operating Room Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Clinical physician assistant vs operating room nurse demographics

Here are the differences between clinical physician assistants' and operating room nurses' demographics:

	Clinical Physician Assistant	Operating Room Nurse
Average age	39	44
Gender ratio	Male, 38.0% Female, 62.0%	Male, 14.8% Female, 85.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% 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 Percentage	12%	9%

Differences between clinical physician assistant and operating room nurse duties and responsibilities

Clinical physician assistant example responsibilities.

Implement and manage cardiology internship college course.
Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Complete nursing assessments, complete care plans, perform ADL's, utilize lifts, alarms and transfer patients safely.
Care for multiple patients in a fast pace setting and provide total care including all treatments, medications and ADL's.
Perform tracheostomy care and suctioning for ventilator dependent patients.
Provide physical therapy services in the inpatient rehabilitation unit and oncology floor.

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.

Clinical physician assistant vs operating room nurse skills

Common clinical physician assistant skills

Patients, 30%
Primary Care, 6%
Medical Care, 6%
Family Medicine, 5%
Urgent Care, 5%
Diagnostic Tests, 4%

Common operating room nurse skills

Patients, 21%
BLS, 13%
Acls, 7%
Surgical Procedures, 4%
PACU, 3%
Pre-op, 3%

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Clinical Physician Assistant
Clinical Physician Assistant vs Operating Room Nurse

Updated January 8, 2025

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