Operating room nurse vs emergency department registered nurse

The differences between operating room nurses and emergency department registered 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 operating room nurse and an emergency department registered nurse. Additionally, an emergency department registered nurse has an average salary of $81,260, which is higher than the $68,255 average annual salary of an operating room nurse.

The top three skills for an operating room nurse include patients, BLS and acls. The most important skills for an emergency department registered nurse are patients, acls, and acute care.

Operating room nurse vs emergency department registered nurse overview

	Operating Room Nurse	Emergency Department Registered Nurse
Yearly salary	$68,255	$81,260
Hourly rate	$32.81	$39.07
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	545,487	661,518
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does an operating room nurse do?

An Operating Room Nurse assists surgeons during operations and keeps the operating room sterile at all times. They ensure that patients are ready for transport to the recovery room.

What does an emergency department registered nurse do?

An emergency registered nurse is first in line for patients who need a response. These nurses are first to respond to emergency cases such as trauma, allergic reactions, and injuries. They assist doctors and other medical staff in emergency medical care. It is their responsibility to always provide high-quality standards for nursing. The skills they should possess include diligence, attention to detail, levelheadedness, and strong communication. They also need to be knowledgeable about emergency care.

Operating room nurse vs emergency department registered nurse salary

Operating room nurses and emergency department registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Operating Room Nurse	Emergency Department Registered Nurse
Average salary	$68,255	$81,260
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $108,000	Between $48,000 And $135,000
Highest paying City	Urban Honolulu, HI	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Hawaii
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Whidbey General Hospital
Best paying industry	Professional	Health Care

Differences between operating room nurse and emergency department registered nurse education

There are a few differences between an operating room nurse and an emergency department registered nurse in terms of educational background:

	Operating Room Nurse	Emergency Department Registered Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Operating room nurse vs emergency department registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between operating room nurses' and emergency department registered nurses' demographics:

	Operating Room Nurse	Emergency Department Registered Nurse
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 14.8% Female, 85.2%	Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between operating room nurse and emergency department registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Operating room nurse example responsibilities.

Post op surgery assist recovery nurse with obtaining vitals signs and attaching EKG leads and oxygen.
Achieve departmental goals and objectives by instituting SGNA standards and processes for inpatient and outpatient care.
Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
General surgery, ortho, GU, GI and ENT and dentals.
Complete BLS and ACLS certification.
Specialize in GYN, urology and orthopedics.

Emergency department registered nurse example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage chest tubes and various drainage devices along with pacer wires, epidural lines, and PCA pumps.
Stabilize critical patients through the use of BLS and ACLS protocols.
Assess patients and prioritize care: stabilize multiple critical patients using ACLS and BLS protocols.
Provide direct patient care including triage evaluation and treatment of patients presenting for care for medical/trauma/psychiatric care.
Perform triage, assessments, complete MD orders assist in treatment and admit or discharge patients requiring/receiving emergency care
Provide comprehensive care to patients that addressed the physical, social, spiritual and mental aspects of care and rehabilitation.

Operating room nurse vs emergency department registered nurse skills

Common operating room nurse skills

Patients, 21%
BLS, 13%
Acls, 7%
Surgical Procedures, 4%
PACU, 3%
Pre-op, 3%

Common emergency department registered nurse skills

Patients, 27%
Acls, 9%
Acute Care, 6%
Life Support, 4%
Patient Outcomes, 4%
Advanced Life Support, 3%

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Operating Room Nurse vs Emergency Department Registered Nurse

Updated January 8, 2025

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