Post job

Head nurse vs registered nurse

The differences between head 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 head nurse and a registered nurse. Additionally, a head nurse has an average salary of $80,173, which is higher than the $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.

The top three skills for a head nurse include patients, BLS and compassion. The most important skills for a registered nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Head nurse vs registered nurse overview

Head NurseRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$80,173$73,349
Hourly rate$38.54$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs649,127646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Head nurse vs registered nurse salary

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

Head NurseRegistered Nurse
Average salary$80,173$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $132,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MNSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyAstraZenecaNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between head nurse and registered nurse education

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

Head NurseRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Head nurse vs registered nurse demographics

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

Head NurseRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 13.1% Female, 86.9%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.2% 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 head nurse and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Head nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Receive intensive training for critical care skill development upon transferring to the medical ICU.
  • Perform advanced nursing care to acute/chronic medical/surgical, cardiac, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic and oncology/ hematology patients.
  • Certify staff in CPR and blood glucose monitoring.
  • Develop and implement an intensive care class for the staff; implement ACLS class for all staff.
  • Develop process improvement plan with bundles for sedation and ventilation.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Head nurse vs registered nurse skills

Common head nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 9%
  • Compassion, 6%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Acls, 4%
  • CPR, 3%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs