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Head nurse vs registered professional nurse

The differences between head nurses and registered professional 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 professional nurse. Additionally, a head nurse has an average salary of $80,173, which is higher than the $73,268 average annual salary of a registered professional nurse.

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

Head nurse vs registered professional nurse overview

Head NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Yearly salary$80,173$73,268
Hourly rate$38.54$35.23
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs649,127681,526
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Head nurse vs registered professional nurse salary

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

Head NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Average salary$80,173$73,268
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $132,000Between $43,000 And $124,000
Highest paying CityMinneapolis, MNNew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyAstraZenecaAccountable Healthcare Holdings Corp.
Best paying industryEducationUtilities

Differences between head nurse and registered professional nurse education

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

Head NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Head nurse vs registered professional nurse demographics

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

Head NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 13.1% Female, 86.9%Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between head nurse and registered professional 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.
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Registered professional nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide direct patient care to but not limit to acute, palliative care, and oncology patients.
  • Provide telemetry monitoring for cardiac patients.
  • Involve in prescribing patients individual rehabilitation programs in conjunction with staff exercise physiologists and helping patients meet their expect goals.
  • Provide excellent and compassionate ICU patient care.
  • Assist ICU manager with scheduling and work assignments.
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Head nurse vs registered professional nurse skills

Common head nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 9%
  • Compassion, 6%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Acls, 4%
  • CPR, 3%
Common registered professional nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Patient Safety, 11%
  • Acls, 6%
  • EKG, 4%
  • Compassion, 3%

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