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The differences between critical care nurses and registered nurses charge nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a critical care nurse has an average salary of $76,788, which is higher than the $71,342 average annual salary of a registered nurse charge nurse.
The top three skills for a critical care nurse include patients, BLS and acls. The most important skills for a registered nurse charge nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.
| Critical Care Nurse | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $76,788 | $71,342 |
| Hourly rate | $36.92 | $34.30 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 594,859 | 645,134 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| 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.
A registered charge nurse is responsible for supervising nurses' workflow in a particular department or area, ensuring every patient gets the proper care that they need. A registered charge nurse has the discretion to direct tasks, arrange schedules, and monitor patients, such as in the aspects of admission and discharge. Furthermore, a registered charge nurse must maintain an active line of communication and coordination among nurses, physicians, and other personnel involved as the conditions in a hospital can be unpredictable.
Critical care nurses and registered nurses charge nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Critical Care Nurse | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Average salary | $76,788 | $71,342 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $130,000 | Between $46,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Dignity Health | Alameda Health System |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a critical care nurse and a registered nurse charge nurse in terms of educational background:
| Critical Care Nurse | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between critical care nurses' and registered nurses charge nurses' demographics:
| Critical Care Nurse | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% |
| 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, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |