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Perioperative nurse vs registered nurse

The differences between perioperative nurses and 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 a perioperative nurse and a registered nurse. Additionally, a perioperative nurse has an average salary of $74,223, which is higher than the $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.

The top three skills for a perioperative nurse include patients, BLS and PACU. The most important skills for a registered nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Perioperative nurse vs registered nurse overview

Perioperative NurseRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$74,223$73,349
Hourly rate$35.68$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs550,223646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Perioperative nurse vs registered nurse salary

Perioperative nurses and registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Perioperative NurseRegistered Nurse
Average salary$74,223$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $117,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CitySanta Maria, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyDignity HealthNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between perioperative nurse and registered nurse education

There are a few differences between a perioperative nurse and a registered nurse in terms of educational background:

Perioperative NurseRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Perioperative nurse vs registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between perioperative nurses' and registered nurses' demographics:

Perioperative NurseRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.7% Female, 85.3%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 9.1% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between perioperative nurse and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Perioperative nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Prepare patients for surgical procedures, according to specific physician orders, anesthesia orders and facility policy.
  • Provide PACU care, monitoring airway, vitals and pain levels.
  • Transport patient to PACU safely, and provide report to the nurse receiving care of the patient.
  • Direct ordering and inventory of pharmaceuticals, as well as ENT, GI, and pain management supplies.
  • Require ACLS certification and good customer-service and post-surgical assessment skills.
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Registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
  • Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
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Perioperative nurse vs registered nurse skills

Common perioperative nurse skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • BLS, 7%
  • PACU, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Plastic Surgery, 3%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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