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Community health nurse vs psychiatric nurse

The differences between community health nurses and psychiatric 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 community health nurse and a psychiatric nurse. Additionally, a psychiatric nurse has an average salary of $64,922, which is higher than the $59,638 average annual salary of a community health nurse.

The top three skills for a community health nurse include patients, community health and home health. The most important skills for a psychiatric nurse are patients, mental illness, and CPR.

Community health nurse vs psychiatric nurse overview

Community Health NursePsychiatric Nurse
Yearly salary$59,638$64,922
Hourly rate$28.67$31.21
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs403,240608,055
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a community health nurse do?

The main role of a community health nurse is to provide care to patients. Community health nurses make a plan on educational assemblies, conduct health screenings, and hand-out fliers. These nurses administer immunizations and dispense medications. They distribute health-associated items such as pregnancy tests and condoms. Part of their job is to assist the elderly, pregnant women, disabled, or homeless by directing them to social service centers. Also, they may concentrate on offering community health nursing.

What does a psychiatric nurse do?

A Psychiatric Nurses role is to supervise the medication and treatment of patients diagnosed with mental disabilities, illnesses, or distresses. They have an essential role in the administration of psychiatric treatment and care.

Community health nurse vs psychiatric nurse salary

Community health nurses and psychiatric nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Health NursePsychiatric Nurse
Average salary$59,638$64,922
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $85,000Between $42,000 And $99,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkRhode Island
Best paying companyCottage HealthHighland General Hospital
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between community health nurse and psychiatric nurse education

There are a few differences between a community health nurse and a psychiatric nurse in terms of educational background:

Community Health NursePsychiatric Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Community health nurse vs psychiatric nurse demographics

Here are the differences between community health nurses' and psychiatric nurses' demographics:

Community Health NursePsychiatric Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.2% Female, 90.8%Male, 18.1% Female, 81.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between community health nurse and psychiatric nurse duties and responsibilities

Community health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
  • Assist in GYN unit and in NICU.
  • Administer medications via PO, IM, SC.
  • Provide a caring & safe environment for neonatal, pediatric populations & couplet mother-baby care.
  • Record information and counsele patients regarding communicable diseases as required by law.
  • Communicate with MD and collaborate with disciplinary team to formulate comprehensive care plans for patients.
  • Show more

Psychiatric nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Staff register nurse, acute medical rehabilitation unit.
  • Perform emergency triage differentiating psychiatric versus medical conditions.
  • Perform triage assessment, psychiatric evaluations, medication administration, psychotherapy and case management.
  • Provide comprehensive medical-psychiatric care to patients via assessment, planning, evaluation and supervision of therapeutic interactions.
  • Provide therapeutic communication and psychiatric rehabilitation with residents to assist with their recovery to return to the community.
  • Show more

Community health nurse vs psychiatric nurse skills

Common community health nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Community Health, 13%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • Public Health, 5%
  • Quality Care, 4%
  • Mental Health, 3%
Common psychiatric nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Mental Illness, 11%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Therapeutic Interventions, 5%
  • Psychiatric Care, 4%
  • IV, 4%

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