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Medical surgical staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse

The differences between medical surgical staff nurses and registered nurses charge 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 medical surgical staff nurse and a registered nurse charge nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse charge nurse has an average salary of $71,342, which is higher than the $67,649 average annual salary of a medical surgical staff nurse.

The top three skills for a medical surgical staff nurse include patients, CPR and acute care. The most important skills for a registered nurse charge nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Medical surgical staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse overview

Medical Surgical Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Yearly salary$67,649$71,342
Hourly rate$32.52$34.30
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs720,628645,134
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 51%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Medical surgical staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse salary

Medical surgical staff nurses and registered nurses charge nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Surgical Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average salary$67,649$71,342
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $115,000Between $46,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Diego, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyAlameda Health System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between medical surgical staff nurse and registered nurse charge nurse education

There are a few differences between a medical surgical staff nurse and a registered nurse charge nurse in terms of educational background:

Medical Surgical Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 51%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Medical surgical staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse demographics

Here are the differences between medical surgical staff nurses' and registered nurses charge nurses' demographics:

Medical Surgical Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.6% Female, 90.4%Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between medical surgical staff nurse and registered nurse charge nurse duties and responsibilities

Medical surgical 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.
  • Provide comprehensive nursing care to a variety of in-patient medical, surgical and telemetry patients.
  • Coordinate and provide direct patient care for cardiac/telemetry, surgical, orthopedic, respiratory, geriatric and pain management patients.
  • Obtain CPR certification for the first time.
  • Assist with patients that have acute active GI bleeding.
  • Administer rapid response and cardiac arrest care as a part of resuscitation team.
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Registered nurse charge nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage intravenous therapy via peripheral and central catheters; antibiotic, TPN/lipid, constant cardiac medication infusion and fluid administration.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Assess and carefully monitor medically diverse patients who require telemetry and safely administer medications.
  • Collaborate with ICU team to provide excellent patient care utilizing critical thinking skills and evidence-base practice.
  • Document patient medical history and symptoms, administer treatment and medications, and follow-up with patients during rehabilitation.
  • Respond to codes, administering CPR and oxygen, monitoring vitals and preparing medications in anticipation of physician orders.
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Medical surgical staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse skills

Common medical surgical staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Telemetry, 4%
Common registered nurse charge nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%

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