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Pediatric nurse vs surgical nurse

The differences between pediatric 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 a pediatric nurse and a surgical nurse. Additionally, a pediatric nurse has an average salary of $72,945, which is higher than the $64,025 average annual salary of a surgical nurse.

The top three skills for a pediatric nurse include patients, home health and BLS. The most important skills for a surgical nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Pediatric nurse vs surgical nurse overview

Pediatric NurseSurgical Nurse
Yearly salary$72,945$64,025
Hourly rate$35.07$30.78
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs614,706638,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a pediatric nurse do?

A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who offers medical and health care for children in hospitals and clinics. Pediatric nurses educate caregivers and parents on the effective methods of child health protection. They take care of children's health from birth to adolescence. They are experts in child care while they are working with their respective families to address their problems, fears, concerns, and other options. The necessary skills for this job include child development knowledge and communication skills.

What does a surgical nurse do?

Generally, a surgical nurse provides patient care before, during, and after surgery. Surgical nurses assist the surgeons and anesthetists whenever necessary. They prepare patients for their surgery and serve the actual procedure. It is part of their job to mark incision sites and sterilize them. They give preoperative instructions, prepare the operating room, and administer medication. The roles they play include being circulating and scrub nurses. Also, they intervene whenever complications occur.

Pediatric nurse vs surgical nurse salary

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

Pediatric NurseSurgical Nurse
Average salary$72,945$64,025
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $117,000Between $39,000 And $103,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CAThousand Oaks, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryHealth CareProfessional

Differences between pediatric nurse and surgical nurse education

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

Pediatric NurseSurgical Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Pediatric nurse vs surgical nurse demographics

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

Pediatric NurseSurgical Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 7.7% Female, 92.3%Male, 11.2% Female, 88.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% 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 pediatric nurse and surgical nurse duties and responsibilities

Pediatric nurse example responsibilities.

  • Provide continuous telemetry monitoring and managing multiple patients with multiple high-risk medical conditions, utilizing interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Coordinate care for acute and chronic pediatric oncology patients with an emphasis on family centered care and patient education.
  • Certify in ACLS and BLS.
  • Provide excellent patient care to children, showing compassion and nurturing while in office.
  • Function as a staff nurse in a twelve bed ICU caring for patients with various illnesses.
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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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Pediatric nurse vs surgical nurse skills

Common pediatric nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Home Health, 14%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Acls, 3%
Common surgical nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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