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Intensive care unit nurse vs registered nurse

The differences between intensive care unit nurses and registered nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an intensive care unit nurse has an average salary of $79,483, which is higher than the $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.

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

Intensive care unit nurse vs registered nurse overview

Intensive Care Unit NurseRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$79,483$73,349
Hourly rate$38.21$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs611,699646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience-2

What does an intensive care unit nurse do?

An Intensive Care Unit Nurse is specialized in providing care in intensive care units of hospitals. They assist in the treatment of acutely ill patients with life-threatening conditions.

What does a registered nurse do?

The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.

Intensive care unit nurse vs registered nurse salary

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

Intensive Care Unit NurseRegistered Nurse
Average salary$79,483$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $48,000 And $131,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clara, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyDignity HealthNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between intensive care unit nurse and registered nurse education

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

Intensive Care Unit NurseRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Intensive care unit nurse vs registered nurse demographics

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

Intensive Care Unit NurseRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 18.2% Female, 81.8%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
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, 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 intensive care unit nurse and registered 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

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

Intensive care unit nurse vs registered nurse skills

Common intensive care unit nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • BLS, 18%
  • Acls, 13%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Catheter, 5%
  • Compassion, 5%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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