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Nurse manager vs nurse

The differences between nurse managers and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a nurse manager, becoming a nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a nurse manager has an average salary of $83,684, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.

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

Nurse manager vs nurse overview

Nurse ManagerNurse
Yearly salary$83,684$57,564
Hourly rate$40.23$27.68
Growth rate28%6%
Number of jobs380,264696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4744
Years of experience62

What does a nurse manager do?

The primary role of nurse managers is to supervise the nursing staff in a clinical or hospital setting. They are the ones who are in charge of patient care, setting work schedules, and making budgetary and management decisions. They are also responsible for making personnel decisions, coordinating meetings, and creating safe environments that promote patient engagement and aid the healthcare team's work. Their role is vital in promoting a culture in which team members contribute to professional growth and patient outcomes.

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 manager vs nurse salary

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

Nurse ManagerNurse
Average salary$83,684$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $60,000 And $115,000Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityLas Vegas, NVSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaCalifornia
Best paying companyBDConviva
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between nurse manager and nurse education

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

Nurse ManagerNurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Nurse manager vs nurse demographics

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

Nurse ManagerNurse
Average age4744
Gender ratioMale, 13.5% Female, 86.5%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage12%9%

Differences between nurse manager and nurse duties and responsibilities

Nurse manager example responsibilities.

  • Case manage workers compensation cases, administer drug testing, surveillance testing, minor 1st aid and CPR instruction.
  • Assess and manage various allergic and life threatening reactions of chemotherapy medications.
  • Manage staff of medical personnel providing care for telemetry, geriatric and general medicine patients.
  • Involve in utilization review and chart audits for all appropriate documentation for medicaid, Medicare and manage care organizations.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Maintain current ACLS and BLS certifications.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Nurse manager vs nurse skills

Common nurse manager skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Performance Improvement, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

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