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Nurse extern vs private duty nurse

The differences between nurse externs and private duty 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 extern and a private duty nurse. Additionally, a private duty nurse has an average salary of $55,518, which is higher than the $37,156 average annual salary of a nurse extern.

The top three skills for a nurse extern include patients, vital signs and CPR. The most important skills for a private duty nurse are home health, patients, and medication administration.

Nurse extern vs private duty nurse overview

Nurse ExternPrivate Duty Nurse
Yearly salary$37,156$55,518
Hourly rate$17.86$26.69
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs569,180256,740
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Associate Degree, 36%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

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.

What does a private duty nurse do?

A private duty nurse is responsible for providing quality health care services for a specific patient's medical needs. Private duty nurses work within a large health care institution or in a private household setting, depending on their scope and availability. They assist the medical staff in administering medications for the patients, conducting medical procedures, evaluating the patients' condition, and reporting progress and any updates to the attending physician for immediate attention. A private duty nurse must be highly attentive, especially on supporting the patient's daily activities and self-care needs.

Nurse extern vs private duty nurse salary

Nurse externs and private duty nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nurse ExternPrivate Duty Nurse
Average salary$37,156$55,518
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $47,000Between $41,000 And $74,000
Highest paying CityHuntington Park, CASpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiRhode Island
Best paying companyMenorah Medical CenterHealth First
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between nurse extern and private duty nurse education

There are a few differences between a nurse extern and a private duty nurse in terms of educational background:

Nurse ExternPrivate Duty Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Associate Degree, 36%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Nurse extern vs private duty nurse demographics

Here are the differences between nurse externs' and private duty nurses' demographics:

Nurse ExternPrivate Duty Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.3% Female, 85.7%Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between nurse extern and private duty nurse duties and responsibilities

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.
  • Show more

Private duty nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage Ventriculostomies and interpret ICP and CVP readings.
  • Manage patient care monitoring vital signs, performing physical assessment, checking patients medications for effectiveness.
  • Communicate with medicaid, and insurance companies to ensure patients receive appropriate care and payment of procedures and medication.
  • Provide daily assessments, ADL's medication management and any necessary medical treatments.
  • Monitor ventilator and oxygen saturation regularly; offer medication, treatments, and tracheostomy care.
  • Provide care to home bound individuals with tracheostomy, ventilator assistance patients, administration of medications, referrals
  • Show more

Nurse extern vs private duty nurse skills

Common nurse extern skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Direct Supervision, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%
Common private duty nurse skills
  • Home Health, 34%
  • Patients, 31%
  • Medication Administration, 3%
  • Hospice Care, 3%
  • Vital Signs, 3%
  • Trach Care, 3%

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