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Obstetrical nurse vs surgical nurse

The differences between obstetrical nurses and surgical nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an obstetrical nurse and a surgical nurse. Additionally, an obstetrical nurse has an average salary of $88,059, which is higher than the $64,025 average annual salary of a surgical nurse.

The top three skills for an obstetrical nurse include patients, BLS and OB. The most important skills for a surgical nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Obstetrical nurse vs surgical nurse overview

Obstetrical NurseSurgical Nurse
Yearly salary$88,059$64,025
Hourly rate$42.34$30.78
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs315,340638,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Obstetrical nurse vs surgical nurse salary

Obstetrical nurses and surgical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Obstetrical NurseSurgical Nurse
Average salary$88,059$64,025
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $137,000Between $39,000 And $103,000
Highest paying City-Thousand Oaks, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between obstetrical nurse and surgical nurse education

There are a few differences between an obstetrical nurse and a surgical nurse in terms of educational background:

Obstetrical NurseSurgical Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Obstetrical nurse vs surgical nurse demographics

Here are the differences between obstetrical nurses' and surgical nurses' demographics:

Obstetrical NurseSurgical Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 3.4% Female, 96.6%Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between obstetrical nurse and surgical nurse duties and responsibilities

Obstetrical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Monitor patients' throughout epidural anesthesia and treat inadequate analgesia.
  • Monitor mother and baby during labor by performing appropriate maternal and fetal monitoring according to protocol and assist physicians during childbirth.
  • Serve as a staff nurse on the medical surgical floor as well as the ICU.
  • Provide resuscitation and care for newborns immediately after delivery care (includes infants born to mothers suffering from substance abuse).
  • Develop and implement personalized care plans for postpartum and newborn patients.
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Surgical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage GI bleeds, asthmatics, bowel resections, fractures, patients with chest and feeding tubes.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Maintain BLS, NRP, ACLS
  • Prepare patients for procedures, initiate and maintain intravenous therapy, and obtain 12-lead EKG.
  • Establish care plans and perform care for ICU, CCU, cardiac, and neurological patients.
  • Serve as a BLS/ ACLS instructor.
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Obstetrical nurse vs surgical nurse skills

Common obstetrical nurse skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • BLS, 10%
  • OB, 7%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • NRP, 5%
Common surgical nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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