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Occupational health nurse vs community health nurse

The differences between occupational health nurses and community health 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 occupational health nurse and a community health nurse. Additionally, an occupational health nurse has an average salary of $67,887, which is higher than the $59,638 average annual salary of a community health nurse.

The top three skills for an occupational health nurse include patients, OSHA and CPR. The most important skills for a community health nurse are patients, community health, and home health.

Occupational health nurse vs community health nurse overview

Occupational Health NurseCommunity Health Nurse
Yearly salary$67,887$59,638
Hourly rate$32.64$28.67
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs328,501403,240
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does an occupational health nurse do?

An Occupational Health Nurse provides and delivers health and safety programs and services to workers and community groups. They manage employee health records and statistics as well as develop and manage emergency procedures.

What does a community health nurse do?

The main role of a community health nurse is to provide care to patients. Community health nurses make a plan on educational assemblies, conduct health screenings, and hand-out fliers. These nurses administer immunizations and dispense medications. They distribute health-associated items such as pregnancy tests and condoms. Part of their job is to assist the elderly, pregnant women, disabled, or homeless by directing them to social service centers. Also, they may concentrate on offering community health nursing.

Occupational health nurse vs community health nurse salary

Occupational health nurses and community health nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Occupational Health NurseCommunity Health Nurse
Average salary$67,887$59,638
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $93,000Between $41,000 And $85,000
Highest paying CityCupertino, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyAppleCottage Health
Best paying industryAutomotiveGovernment

Differences between occupational health nurse and community health nurse education

There are a few differences between an occupational health nurse and a community health nurse in terms of educational background:

Occupational Health NurseCommunity Health Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Occupational health nurse vs community health nurse demographics

Here are the differences between occupational health nurses' and community health nurses' demographics:

Occupational Health NurseCommunity Health Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 11.0% Female, 89.0%Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between occupational health nurse and community health nurse duties and responsibilities

Occupational health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
  • Facilitate rehabilitation of injure employees, utilizing case management to ensure coordination of care, FMLA and return-to-work program.
  • Provide emergency triage care as appropriate, dispense medications and treatments, and assist physicians with physical exams and/or psychiatric evaluations.
  • Exercise compassion and respect for all cultures.
  • Prepare for HIPAA and MI-OSHA reviews and audits.
  • Maintain and coordinate a and written a program.
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Community health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
  • Assist in GYN unit and in NICU.
  • Administer medications via PO, IM, SC.
  • Provide a caring & safe environment for neonatal, pediatric populations & couplet mother-baby care.
  • Record information and counsele patients regarding communicable diseases as required by law.
  • Communicate with MD and collaborate with disciplinary team to formulate comprehensive care plans for patients.
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Occupational health nurse vs community health nurse skills

Common occupational health nurse skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • OSHA, 9%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Spirometry, 5%
  • Health Promotion, 4%
Common community health nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Community Health, 13%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • Public Health, 5%
  • Quality Care, 4%
  • Mental Health, 3%

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