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Home health nurse vs nurse

The differences between home health nurses and 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 home health nurse and a nurse. Additionally, a home health nurse has an average salary of $69,393, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.

The top three skills for a home health nurse include home health, patients and quality care. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

Home health nurse vs nurse overview

Home Health NurseNurse
Yearly salary$69,393$57,564
Hourly rate$33.36$27.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs687,941696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a home health nurse do?

A home health nurse is responsible for assisting patients usually in their households, strictly monitoring their health conditions and treatment plans for fast recovery. Home health nurses work with the patients' attending physicians and other health professionals to develop healthcare plans and administer timely medications. They update the patient's chart regularly, record temperature and vital signs, manage food intake, and respond to the patients' inquiries and requests. A home health nurse must have strong organizational and time-management skills to perform various nursing duties under certain conditions.

What does a nurse do?

Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.

Home health nurse vs nurse salary

Home health nurses and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Home Health NurseNurse
Average salary$69,393$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $99,000Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityPetaluma, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySenior Living PropertiesConviva
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between home health nurse and nurse education

There are a few differences between a home health nurse and a nurse in terms of educational background:

Home Health NurseNurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Home health nurse vs nurse demographics

Here are the differences between home health nurses' and nurses' demographics:

Home Health NurseNurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 10.6% Female, 89.4%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between home health nurse and nurse duties and responsibilities

Home health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage an Alzheimer patient daily care including bathing, feeding and administer any medication.
  • Instruct patients and relatives regarding techniques used in managing vascular access devices aim at facilitating client independence.
  • Field NurseProvide care for patients discharge from hospital, skil care facility rehabilitation facility and referral from physician's office.
  • Administer IM meds such as monthly B12
  • Maintain and assess patient for daily MDS.
  • Care of ventilator and TPN in home private duty
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Nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
  • Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
  • Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
  • Provide care for patients on medical/surgical, transplant, cardiac, orthopedic, postpartum, neonatal ICU, and psychiatric units
  • Demonstrate competence in CPR and other medical emergency situations.
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Home health nurse vs nurse skills

Common home health nurse skills
  • Home Health, 31%
  • Patients, 20%
  • Quality Care, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Physician Orders, 4%
  • Infection Control, 3%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

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