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The differences between nurse managers and registered nurse unit managers 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 registered nurse unit manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a nurse manager has an average salary of $83,684, which is higher than the $75,427 average annual salary of a registered nurse unit manager.
The top three skills for a nurse manager include patients, home health and CPR. The most important skills for a registered nurse unit manager are home health, patients, and rehabilitation.
| Nurse Manager | Registered Nurse Unit Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $83,684 | $75,427 |
| Hourly rate | $40.23 | $36.26 |
| Growth rate | 28% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 380,264 | 491,638 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
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.
A Registered Nurse Unit Manager supervises the care of people who need hospice or long-term care. Another duty is to review clinical records for completeness and accuracy, as necessary.
Nurse managers and registered nurse unit managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Nurse Manager | Registered Nurse Unit Manager | |
| Average salary | $83,684 | $75,427 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $115,000 | Between $54,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | BD | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Non Profits |
There are a few differences between a nurse manager and a registered nurse unit manager in terms of educational background:
| Nurse Manager | Registered Nurse Unit Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Duke University |
Here are the differences between nurse managers' and registered nurse unit managers' demographics:
| Nurse Manager | Registered Nurse Unit Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.5% Female, 86.5% | Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 9% |