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Maternity nurse vs surgical nurse

The differences between maternity nurses and surgical 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 maternity nurse and a surgical nurse. Additionally, a maternity nurse has an average salary of $73,843, which is higher than the $64,025 average annual salary of a surgical nurse.

The top three skills for a maternity nurse include patients, BLS and OB. The most important skills for a surgical nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Maternity nurse vs surgical nurse overview

Maternity NurseSurgical Nurse
Yearly salary$73,843$64,025
Hourly rate$35.50$30.78
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs342,735638,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Maternity nurse vs surgical nurse salary

Maternity nurses and surgical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Maternity NurseSurgical Nurse
Average salary$73,843$64,025
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $127,000Between $39,000 And $103,000
Highest paying City-Thousand Oaks, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between maternity nurse and surgical nurse education

There are a few differences between a maternity nurse and a surgical nurse in terms of educational background:

Maternity NurseSurgical Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Maternity nurse vs surgical nurse demographics

Here are the differences between maternity nurses' and surgical nurses' demographics:

Maternity NurseSurgical Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.6% Female, 90.4%Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 9.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between maternity nurse and surgical nurse duties and responsibilities

Maternity nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage the care of high risk patient with seizure disorders, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, bleeding issues.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Serve as acting coordinator of the ob department.
  • Assume the duties of the obstetric nurse for all ob.
  • Educate, assess, and counsele regarding post-partum care, childbirth, lactation, and treatment procedures.
  • Assist with epidural catheter placement.
  • Show more

Surgical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage GI bleeds, asthmatics, bowel resections, fractures, patients with chest and feeding tubes.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Maintain BLS, NRP, ACLS
  • Prepare patients for procedures, initiate and maintain intravenous therapy, and obtain 12-lead EKG.
  • Establish care plans and perform care for ICU, CCU, cardiac, and neurological patients.
  • Serve as a BLS/ ACLS instructor.
  • Show more

Maternity nurse vs surgical nurse skills

Common maternity nurse skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • BLS, 17%
  • OB, 8%
  • Family Education, 8%
  • Pregnant Women, 5%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
Common surgical nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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