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Nurse educator vs nurse

The differences between nurse educators and 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 nurse educator and a nurse. Additionally, a nurse educator has an average salary of $67,983, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.

The top three skills for a nurse educator include patients, BLS and BSN. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

Nurse educator vs nurse overview

Nurse EducatorNurse
Yearly salary$67,983$57,564
Hourly rate$32.68$27.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs537,803696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a nurse educator do?

A nurse educator is responsible for teaching aspiring professional nurses, designing courses according to the curriculum, and organizing activities to practice and enhance the students' knowledge. Nurse educators manage clinical activities and observe the students' performance in actual training. They must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as its practices, to respond to the students' inquiries and concerns accurately. A nurse educator identifies the students' strengths and weaknesses, develop comprehensive lesson plans, and strategizing various nursing programs.

What does a nurse do?

Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.

Nurse educator vs nurse salary

Nurse educators and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nurse EducatorNurse
Average salary$67,983$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $97,000Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityJersey City, NJSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyGradyHealthConviva
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalGovernment

Differences between nurse educator and nurse education

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

Nurse EducatorNurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Nurse educator vs nurse demographics

Here are the differences between nurse educators' and nurses' demographics:

Nurse EducatorNurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 10.7% Female, 89.3%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between nurse educator and nurse duties and responsibilities

Nurse educator example responsibilities.

  • Achieve instructor level for both BLS and ACLS, supporting needs of nursing staff to maintain competency.
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies.
  • Provide nursing education and clinical expertise to novice nurses entering ICU setting.
  • Assist with maintaining staff certification in ACLS and BLS, advocate keeping current with unit specific certifications.
  • Involve in program development for the cardiology and cardiovascular surgery departments.
  • Develop standardized patient care plans for medical diagnoses and oncology patients for use with the hospital computerize documentation system.
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Nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
  • Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
  • Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
  • Provide care for patients on medical/surgical, transplant, cardiac, orthopedic, postpartum, neonatal ICU, and psychiatric units
  • Demonstrate competence in CPR and other medical emergency situations.
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Nurse educator vs nurse skills

Common nurse educator skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • BLS, 8%
  • BSN, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Educational Programs, 5%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

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