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Nurse extern vs registered nurse prn

The differences between nurse externs and registered nurse prns 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 an registered nurse prn. Additionally, an registered nurse prn has an average salary of $77,449, 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 an registered nurse prn are patients, home health, and acute care.

Nurse extern vs registered nurse prn overview

Nurse ExternRegistered Nurse PRN
Yearly salary$37,156$77,449
Hourly rate$17.86$37.24
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs569,180636,925
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Associate Degree, 44%
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 an registered nurse prn do?

As a registered nurse PRN, their job is to collaborate with medical teams, reviewing the patient records to ensure providing the best quality health care for patients. They deliberate ongoing patient care with physicians and other staff. In addition, they help explain treatment to patients and their families. Moreover, they also provide different services, including treatment of chronic illnesses and providing urgent care. They may be scheduled in a flexible shift to work in various departments as needed.

Nurse extern vs registered nurse prn salary

Nurse externs and registered nurse prns have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nurse ExternRegistered Nurse PRN
Average salary$37,156$77,449
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $47,000Between $46,000 And $130,000
Highest paying CityHuntington Park, CACamden, NJ
Highest paying stateHawaiiCalifornia
Best paying companyMenorah Medical CenterBaptist Health Care
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between nurse extern and registered nurse prn education

There are a few differences between a nurse extern and an registered nurse prn in terms of educational background:

Nurse ExternRegistered Nurse PRN
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Associate Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Nurse extern vs registered nurse prn demographics

Here are the differences between nurse externs' and registered nurse prns' demographics:

Nurse ExternRegistered Nurse PRN
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.3% Female, 85.7%Male, 10.7% Female, 89.3%
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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between nurse extern and registered nurse prn 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

Registered nurse prn example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Float nurse for the emergency department, ICU, CCU, telemetry and adult psychiatric unit.
  • Deliver high-quality and compassionate treatment to sickle cell specialty patients and other hematology and oncology patients.
  • Work in various areas including ER, CCU, ICU, and Tele.
  • Supervise 2-3 CNAs per shift.
  • Supervise CNAs who are assisting with client care.
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Nurse extern vs registered nurse prn skills

Common nurse extern skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Direct Supervision, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%
Common registered nurse prn skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Surgery, 4%

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