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The differences between critical care nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an advanced registered nurse practitioner has an average salary of $97,820, which is higher than the $76,788 average annual salary of a critical care nurse.
The top three skills for a critical care nurse include patients, BLS and acls. The most important skills for an advanced registered nurse practitioner are patients, ARNP, and patient care.
| Critical Care Nurse | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | |
| Yearly salary | $76,788 | $97,820 |
| Hourly rate | $36.92 | $47.03 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 594,859 | 486,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Master's Degree, 52% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A critical care nurse is responsible for providing quality care for patients confined in the intensive care unit of a health care facility. Critical care nurses maintain an organized medical chart to report the patient's condition to an attending physician and other medical professionals. They also administer medication, regularly check the patient's vital signs, and assist the doctors in conducting medical procedures and laboratory examinations. A critical care nurse also suggests care plans for the patients, especially during discharge, to ensure total recovery.
An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) is responsible for patient care. An ARNP may practice independently or work with other healthcare professionals such as physicians. Your duties typically include examining patients and determining diagnosis by physical examination, patient history, and other medical assessments, admitting, managing, and discharging patients to and from medical facilities, and managing health care by developing, implementing, and evaluating treatment and care plans for patients. You will also be responsible for referring patients to other health care service providers or facilities.
Critical care nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Critical Care Nurse | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | |
| Average salary | $76,788 | $97,820 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $130,000 | Between $62,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Dignity Health | Hunter Health Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a critical care nurse and an advanced registered nurse practitioner in terms of educational background:
| Critical Care Nurse | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Master's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between critical care nurses' and advanced registered nurse practitioners' demographics:
| Critical Care Nurse | Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% 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 | 9% | 9% |