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Perioperative nurse vs scrub nurse

The differences between perioperative nurses and scrub 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 scrub nurse. Additionally, a perioperative nurse has an average salary of $74,223, which is higher than the $66,672 average annual salary of a scrub nurse.

The top three skills for a perioperative nurse include patients, BLS and PACU. The most important skills for a scrub nurse are patients, surgery site, and direct patient care.

Perioperative nurse vs scrub nurse overview

Perioperative NurseScrub Nurse
Yearly salary$74,223$66,672
Hourly rate$35.68$32.05
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs550,223635,835
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Perioperative nurse vs scrub nurse salary

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

Perioperative NurseScrub Nurse
Average salary$74,223$66,672
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $117,000Between $43,000 And $103,000
Highest paying CitySanta Maria, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyDignity Health-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between perioperative nurse and scrub nurse education

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

Perioperative NurseScrub Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Perioperative nurse vs scrub nurse demographics

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

Perioperative NurseScrub Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 14.7% Female, 85.3%Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between perioperative nurse and scrub 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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Scrub nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Assist scrub nurse in the setup, arrangement and count of surgical equipment and sponges.
  • Maintain and accurately document proper counting of instruments, sponges and needles as per policy.
  • Include teaching at community outreach seminars and optometry seminars for patients and physicians
  • Provide teaching to patients and families regarding health care preparation in ambulatory/outpatient care.
  • Perform and participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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Perioperative nurse vs scrub nurse skills

Common perioperative nurse skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • BLS, 7%
  • PACU, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Plastic Surgery, 3%
Common scrub nurse skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Surgery Site, 11%
  • Direct Patient Care, 6%
  • Surgical Procedures, 6%
  • GYN, 5%
  • Ortho, 5%

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