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Field nurse vs registered nurse

The differences between field nurses and registered 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 field nurse and a registered nurse. Additionally, a field nurse has an average salary of $78,753, which is higher than the $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.

The top three skills for a field nurse include patients, home health and wound care. The most important skills for a registered nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Field nurse vs registered nurse overview

Field NurseRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$78,753$73,349
Hourly rate$37.86$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs678,050646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Field nurse vs registered nurse salary

Field nurses and registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field NurseRegistered Nurse
Average salary$78,753$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $118,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-NORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between field nurse and registered nurse education

There are a few differences between a field nurse and a registered nurse in terms of educational background:

Field NurseRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Field nurse vs registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between field nurses' and registered nurses' demographics:

Field NurseRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.4% Female, 90.6%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between field nurse and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Field nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Screen prospective clients for need immunizations, implementing after evaluating patients' medical history and obtaining sign release.
  • Promote health literacy by educating patients and caregivers on disease management, diagnosis, medical interventions, and pharmaceuticals.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Prepare and give injections and enemas, monitor catheters, apply dressings, treat bedsores and give alcohol rubs and massages.
  • Document patient care in a manner that complies with JCAHO standards.
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Registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
  • Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
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Field nurse vs registered nurse skills

Common field nurse skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Home Health, 14%
  • Wound Care, 7%
  • Palliative Care, 6%
  • IV, 4%
  • Disease Process, 3%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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