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The differences between oncology nurses and registered 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 oncology nurse and a registered health nurse. Additionally, a registered health nurse has an average salary of $75,713, which is higher than the $72,372 average annual salary of an oncology nurse.
The top three skills for an oncology nurse include patients, chemotherapy and medical oncology. The most important skills for a registered health nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Oncology Nurse | Registered Health Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $72,372 | $75,713 |
| Hourly rate | $34.79 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 584,649 | 538,508 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Oncology Nurses work with medical practitioners to take care of cancer patients in various settings (hospitals, clinics, etc.). The job requires compassion and personal fortitude to deal with their patients' suffering from such a profound illness. They are required to have an associate's degree in nursing and an RN license. Oncology Nurses provide professional care and coordinate the delivery of oncology treatments. They also take care of patients assigned to them in a medical oncology facility and ensure that hospital or department and University policies are followed.
Registered health nurses work in collaboration with other health care professionals. They provide direct patient care, assess and record symptoms, progress, and reactions, all of which provides the source for care planning and intervention. They also manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in the right care, and aid individuals and groups to improve or maintain their good health. It also requires a large base of knowledge and experience in order to assess, plan, and give intervention to promote health, avoid disease, and help patients cope with ailments.
Oncology nurses and registered health nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Oncology Nurse | Registered Health Nurse | |
| Average salary | $72,372 | $75,713 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $127,000 | Between $50,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Carmichael, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Washington Hospital Healthcare System | Baptist Health Care |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an oncology nurse and a registered health nurse in terms of educational background:
| Oncology Nurse | Registered Health Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between oncology nurses' and registered health nurses' demographics:
| Oncology Nurse | Registered Health Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1% | Male, 11.1% Female, 88.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |