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Intensive care unit nurse vs head nurse

The differences between intensive care unit nurses and head nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a head nurse has an average salary of $80,173, which is higher than the $79,483 average annual salary of an intensive care unit nurse.

The top three skills for an intensive care unit nurse include patients, BLS and acls. The most important skills for a head nurse are patients, BLS, and compassion.

Intensive care unit nurse vs head nurse overview

Intensive Care Unit NurseHead Nurse
Yearly salary$79,483$80,173
Hourly rate$38.21$38.54
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs611,699649,127
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4444
Years of experience-2

Intensive care unit nurse vs head nurse salary

Intensive care unit nurses and head nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Intensive Care Unit NurseHead Nurse
Average salary$79,483$80,173
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $131,000Between $48,000 And $132,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CAMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyDignity HealthAstraZeneca
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between intensive care unit nurse and head nurse education

There are a few differences between an intensive care unit nurse and a head nurse in terms of educational background:

Intensive Care Unit NurseHead Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Intensive care unit nurse vs head nurse demographics

Here are the differences between intensive care unit nurses' and head nurses' demographics:

Intensive Care Unit NurseHead Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 18.2% Female, 81.8%Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between intensive care unit nurse and head nurse duties and responsibilities

Intensive care unit nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage pre- and post-surgical care, specifically for GI disorders.
  • Manage patients who suffer respiratory/cardiac arrest per ACLS protocol.
  • Manage patients requiring blood transfusions, iv antibiotic therapy, complications from chemotherapy and radiation.
  • Care for cardiac patients in CCU.
  • Incorporate ACLS and BLS algorithms on a frequent basis.
  • Provide care to ventilator dependent patients, tracheal care, and ICP monitoring.
  • Show more

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

Intensive care unit nurse vs head nurse skills

Common intensive care unit nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • BLS, 18%
  • Acls, 13%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Catheter, 5%
  • Compassion, 5%
Common head nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 9%
  • Compassion, 6%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Acls, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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