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The differences between discharge planners and registered nurses charge 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 discharge planner and a registered nurse charge nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse charge nurse has an average salary of $71,342, which is higher than the $52,855 average annual salary of a discharge planner.
The top three skills for a discharge planner include patients, social work and home health. The most important skills for a registered nurse charge nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.
| Discharge Planner | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $52,855 | $71,342 |
| Hourly rate | $25.41 | $34.30 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 31,021 | 645,134 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
In the health industry, a discharge planner is primarily responsible for assessing and meeting the patients' needs as they transition to their lives after being in the hospital. It is their duty to study the patients' medical history, provide discharge summaries to the patients' insurance providers, arrange services with external parties such as rehabilitation centers or therapists, and develop discharge plans that would guide the patients' on their journey to recovery. Moreover, they coordinate with medical experts and work with the patients' families to ensure the patient's welfare.
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.
Discharge planners and registered nurses charge nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Discharge Planner | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Average salary | $52,855 | $71,342 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $82,000 | Between $46,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | - | Alameda Health System |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a discharge planner and a registered nurse charge nurse in terms of educational background:
| Discharge Planner | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Associate Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between discharge planners' and registered nurses charge nurses' demographics:
| Discharge Planner | Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.6% Female, 86.4% | Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% 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, 9.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |