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Hospice volunteer vs home care nurse

The differences between hospice volunteers and home care 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 hospice volunteer and a home care nurse. Additionally, a home care nurse has an average salary of $53,762, which is higher than the $30,239 average annual salary of a hospice volunteer.

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

Hospice volunteer vs home care nurse overview

Hospice VolunteerHome Care Nurse
Yearly salary$30,239$53,762
Hourly rate$14.54$25.85
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs8,876692,730
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a hospice volunteer do?

A hospice volunteer works directly with caregivers, families, and patients. Hospice volunteers provide transportation service to families, their children, and patients. Also known as the end of life care professionals, they provide assistance in different household chores. They take care of people who are suffering from a terminal disease or any other health conditions. Also, they do grocery shopping, transport patients to their appointment, and inform hospice staff of the needs of patients.

What does a home care nurse do?

A home care nurse is responsible for providing quality health care for patients, usually in a private home setting. Home care nurses monitor patients' conditions and their medication and other treatments as prescribed by the attending physician or other health care professionals. They assist with the patients' daily activities such as bathing, feeding, and performing procedures such as taking the patients' temperature and vital signs, collecting specimens, and updating their medical chart.

Hospice volunteer vs home care nurse salary

Hospice volunteers and home care nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hospice VolunteerHome Care Nurse
Average salary$30,239$53,762
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $41,000Between $34,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City-Eugene, OR
Highest paying state-Oregon
Best paying company-Overlake Medical Center & Clinics
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between hospice volunteer and home care nurse education

There are a few differences between a hospice volunteer and a home care nurse in terms of educational background:

Hospice VolunteerHome Care Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Hospice volunteer vs home care nurse demographics

Here are the differences between hospice volunteers' and home care nurses' demographics:

Hospice VolunteerHome Care Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 20.2% Female, 79.8%Male, 13.5% Female, 86.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between hospice volunteer and home care nurse duties and responsibilities

Hospice volunteer example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care monitoring vital signs, performing physical assessment, checking patients medications for effectiveness.
  • Provide compassion and care to patients and families, promoting comfort, independence, and dignity.
  • Develop communication, presentation, and public speaking skills by presenting in a one-on-one or one-to-many setting
  • Develop relationships and provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families through active listening and a compassionate presence.
  • Translate for Spanish-speaking job seekers at LDS employment services.
  • Plan lessons to teach people about the LDS religion and standards.
  • Show more

Home care nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care monitoring vital signs, performing physical assessment, checking patients medications for effectiveness.
  • Enter the nursing profession working in an ICU step down unit, with medical and surgical patients.
  • Care for many patients with complex issues with compassion and care and enhances the standard of care within the clinical area.
  • Provide care for pediatric patients with chronic illnesses and pediatric ventilator and tracheostomy patients.
  • Provide home dialysis services to patients receiving rehabilitation in a nursing home setting utilizing NxStage machines.
  • Monitor cardiac rhythms and treat per ACLS protocols
  • Show more

Hospice volunteer vs home care nurse skills

Common hospice volunteer skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 19%
  • PET, 8%
  • Emotional Support, 6%
  • Infection Control, 6%
  • Respite Care, 5%
Common home care nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Home Health, 18%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Companionship, 8%
  • Social Work, 3%
  • Primary Care, 3%

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