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Perioperative nurse vs staff nurse

The differences between perioperative nurses and staff 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 staff nurse. Additionally, a perioperative nurse has an average salary of $74,223, which is higher than the $68,342 average annual salary of a staff nurse.

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

Perioperative nurse vs staff nurse overview

Perioperative NurseStaff Nurse
Yearly salary$74,223$68,342
Hourly rate$35.68$32.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs550,223699,636
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Perioperative nurse vs staff nurse salary

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

Perioperative NurseStaff Nurse
Average salary$74,223$68,342
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $117,000Between $42,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CitySanta Maria, CABurlingame, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyDignity HealthWashington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between perioperative nurse and staff nurse education

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

Perioperative NurseStaff Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Perioperative nurse vs staff nurse demographics

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

Perioperative NurseStaff 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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between perioperative nurse and staff 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.
  • Show more

Staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.
  • Provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings with an emphasis in critical care and PACU settings.
  • Prepare patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures including initiating intravenous lines, physical assessments and administering medications.
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Perioperative nurse vs staff nurse skills

Common perioperative nurse skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • BLS, 7%
  • PACU, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Plastic Surgery, 3%
Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%

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