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Practical nurse vs nurse extern

The differences between practical nurses and nurse externs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a practical nurse and a nurse extern. Additionally, a practical nurse has an average salary of $75,363, which is higher than the $37,156 average annual salary of a nurse extern.

The top three skills for a practical nurse include patients, APN and home health. The most important skills for a nurse extern are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Practical nurse vs nurse extern overview

Practical NurseNurse Extern
Yearly salary$75,363$37,156
Hourly rate$36.23$17.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs511,602569,180
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4644
Years of experience22

What does a practical nurse do?

A practical nurse is responsible for providing the highest quality care services for the patients and assisting them with their needs and concerns. Practical nurses work within a health institution or private household to support the patients in their daily activities, monitor their conditions, administer medication, and inform the doctors of their health updates. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to develop nursing care plans and activities to suit the patients' lifestyle and keep their active wellbeing.

What does a nurse extern do?

The job of a nurse extern is to assist the mentor nurse in their nursing duties. They help the mentor nurse in various medical procedures such as administering medications or starting intravenous therapies. They provide or help with personal patient care, including changing bed linens, oral hygiene, and bathing. Nurse externships typically have different requirements that include having finished nursing school, completing a clinical nursing course before the training, and being registered in a nursing program.

Practical nurse vs nurse extern salary

Practical nurses and nurse externs have different pay scales, as shown below.

Practical NurseNurse Extern
Average salary$75,363$37,156
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $120,000Between $29,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityLancaster, CAHuntington Park, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyUniversity HospitalsMenorah Medical Center
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between practical nurse and nurse extern education

There are a few differences between a practical nurse and a nurse extern in terms of educational background:

Practical NurseNurse Extern
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityEmory University

Practical nurse vs nurse extern demographics

Here are the differences between practical nurses' and nurse externs' demographics:

Practical NurseNurse Extern
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 14.3% Female, 85.7%Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 9.9% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between practical nurse and nurse extern duties and responsibilities

Practical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Treat patients with dignity, respect, and compassion while maintaining there safety.
  • Maintain safety and quality standards of care while facilitating early discharge of mother and baby.
  • Maintain HIPPA and OSHA guidelines.
  • Receive and implementing Dr orders.
  • Train in lactation and NRP certify.
  • Show more

Nurse extern example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Assist patients with activities of daily living, obtain vital signs and assessments, and perform 12 lead EKG's.
  • Perform initial assessments on patients in outpatient oncology clinic; recording vital signs, significant medical history and chief complaints.
  • Shadow to adult medical-surgical nurse staff- head-to-toe assessment, assist with medication administration, computer charting with co-signor, and telemetry monitoring
  • Obtain ACLS, to ensure patients receive the best quality of care.
  • Obtain ACLS certification and then float to all critical care areas as needed.
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Practical nurse vs nurse extern skills

Common practical nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • APN, 7%
  • Home Health, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Physical Examinations, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
Common nurse extern skills
  • Patients, 39%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Direct Supervision, 4%
  • Patient Care, 3%

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