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Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs nurse extern

The differences between licensed practical nurses staff nurses and nurse externs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a licensed practical nurse staff nurse and a nurse extern. Additionally, a licensed practical nurse staff nurse has an average salary of $52,403, which is higher than the $37,156 average annual salary of a nurse extern.

The top three skills for a licensed practical nurse staff nurse include patients, vital signs and CPR. The most important skills for a nurse extern are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs nurse extern overview

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseNurse Extern
Yearly salary$52,403$37,156
Hourly rate$25.19$17.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs617,172569,180
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDiploma, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4644
Years of experience22

What does a licensed practical nurse staff nurse do?

A licensed practical nurse is responsible for assisting patients with quality care under the supervision of a direct physician and registered nurse. Licensed practical nurses provide help on collecting samples and performing medical procedures such as taking patients' temperatures and vital signs. Staff nurses monitor a patient's condition, assist on medications and feeding, and report to the patient's physician. Licensed practical nurses also respond to patients' inquiries, as well as updating the patient's family on any changes to the patient's condition.

What does a nurse extern do?

The job of a nurse extern is to assist the mentor nurse in their nursing duties. They help the mentor nurse in various medical procedures such as administering medications or starting intravenous therapies. They provide or help with personal patient care, including changing bed linens, oral hygiene, and bathing. Nurse externships typically have different requirements that include having finished nursing school, completing a clinical nursing course before the training, and being registered in a nursing program.

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs nurse extern salary

Licensed practical nurses staff nurses and nurse externs have different pay scales, as shown below.

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseNurse Extern
Average salary$52,403$37,156
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $73,000Between $29,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYHuntington Park, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiHawaii
Best paying companyLife Care Centers of AmericaMenorah Medical Center
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between licensed practical nurse staff nurse and nurse extern education

There are a few differences between a licensed practical nurse staff nurse and a nurse extern in terms of educational background:

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseNurse Extern
Most common degreeDiploma, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityEmory University

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs nurse extern demographics

Here are the differences between licensed practical nurses staff nurses' and nurse externs' demographics:

Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseNurse Extern
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 9.8% Female, 90.2%Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 9.9% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between licensed practical nurse staff nurse and nurse extern duties and responsibilities

Licensed practical nurse staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Perform a number of medical procedures, including temperature, pulse and blood pressure readings, TB testing and EKG's.
  • Time management, and compassion for patients and their families
  • Assist with treatment of emergency and priority patients, including the use of CPR, if necessary.
  • Demonstrate ability to work as a team player and provide excellent care and compassion to residents.
  • Assist patients with ADL's as needed, teach patients how to control their pain with and without medication.
  • Show more

Nurse extern example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Assist patients with activities of daily living, obtain vital signs and assessments, and perform 12 lead EKG's.
  • Perform initial assessments on patients in outpatient oncology clinic; recording vital signs, significant medical history and chief complaints.
  • Shadow to adult medical-surgical nurse staff- head-to-toe assessment, assist with medication administration, computer charting with co-signor, and telemetry monitoring
  • Obtain ACLS, to ensure patients receive the best quality of care.
  • Obtain ACLS certification and then float to all critical care areas as needed.
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Licensed practical nurse staff nurse vs nurse extern skills

Common licensed practical nurse staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • Triage, 6%
  • Quality Care, 5%
Common nurse extern skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Direct Supervision, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%

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