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Post-anesthesia care unit nurse vs registered professional nurse

The differences between post-anesthesia care unit nurses and registered professional 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 post-anesthesia care unit nurse and a registered professional nurse. Additionally, a post-anesthesia care unit nurse has an average salary of $81,716, which is higher than the $73,268 average annual salary of a registered professional nurse.

The top three skills for a post-anesthesia care unit nurse include patients, BLS and PACU. The most important skills for a registered professional nurse are patients, BLS, and patient safety.

Post-anesthesia care unit nurse vs registered professional nurse overview

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Yearly salary$81,716$73,268
Hourly rate$39.29$35.23
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs417,150681,526
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Post-anesthesia care unit nurse vs registered professional nurse salary

Post-anesthesia care unit nurses and registered professional nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Average salary$81,716$73,268
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $131,000Between $43,000 And $124,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MANew York, NY
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyDignity HealthAccountable Healthcare Holdings Corp.
Best paying industryHealth CareUtilities

Differences between post-anesthesia care unit nurse and registered professional nurse education

There are a few differences between a post-anesthesia care unit nurse and a registered professional nurse in terms of educational background:

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Post-anesthesia care unit nurse vs registered professional nurse demographics

Here are the differences between post-anesthesia care unit nurses' and registered professional nurses' demographics:

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit NurseRegistered Professional Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 15.7% Female, 84.3%Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between post-anesthesia care unit nurse and registered professional nurse duties and responsibilities

Post-anesthesia care unit nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions and monitoring patients' responses.
  • Do preop teaching, draw labs and perform EKG's prior to surgery.
  • Maintain and care for arterial/venous sheaths sites, as well as medication titration pre and post op.
  • Provide leadership in improving and sustaining the quality and effectiveness of the care provide by PACU nursing and ancillary staff.
  • Assess post-operative surgical patients for anesthesia complications
  • Monitor for hemorrhagic changes and lingering affects of anesthesia.
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Registered professional nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide direct patient care to but not limit to acute, palliative care, and oncology patients.
  • Provide telemetry monitoring for cardiac patients.
  • Involve in prescribing patients individual rehabilitation programs in conjunction with staff exercise physiologists and helping patients meet their expect goals.
  • Provide excellent and compassionate ICU patient care.
  • Assist ICU manager with scheduling and work assignments.
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Post-anesthesia care unit nurse vs registered professional nurse skills

Common post-anesthesia care unit nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • BLS, 16%
  • PACU, 16%
  • Acls, 12%
  • Anesthesia Care, 9%
  • Acute Care, 6%
Common registered professional nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Patient Safety, 11%
  • Acls, 6%
  • EKG, 4%
  • Compassion, 3%

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