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Field nurse vs staff nurse

The differences between field nurses and staff 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 staff nurse. Additionally, a field nurse has an average salary of $78,753, which is higher than the $68,342 average annual salary of a staff nurse.

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

Field nurse vs staff nurse overview

Field NurseStaff Nurse
Yearly salary$78,753$68,342
Hourly rate$37.86$32.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs678,050699,636
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Field nurse vs staff nurse salary

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

Field NurseStaff Nurse
Average salary$78,753$68,342
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $118,000Between $42,000 And $109,000
Highest paying City-Burlingame, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between field nurse and staff nurse education

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

Field NurseStaff Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Field nurse vs staff nurse demographics

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

Field NurseStaff 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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between field nurse and staff 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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Staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.
  • Provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings with an emphasis in critical care and PACU settings.
  • Prepare patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures including initiating intravenous lines, physical assessments and administering medications.
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Field nurse vs staff nurse skills

Common field nurse skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Home Health, 14%
  • Wound Care, 7%
  • Palliative Care, 6%
  • IV, 4%
  • Disease Process, 3%
Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%

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