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The differences between practical 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 practical nurse and a staff nurse. Additionally, a practical nurse has an average salary of $75,363, which is higher than the $68,342 average annual salary of a staff nurse.
The top three skills for a practical nurse include patients, APN and home health. The most important skills for a staff nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.
| Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $75,363 | $68,342 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $32.86 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 511,602 | 699,636 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
Staff nurses are registered nurses who are usually assigned to work in a care home, a company, or in a clinical setting. They advise the physical assessments of patients, employees, and residents. They also handle the checking of vital signs, providing basic medical procedures, giving first aid, and, if possible, providing over the counter medication. Staff nurses provide medical attention to the people in their place of assignment. They help pave the path to their patients' full recovery. Staff nurses are expected to be patient and have good interpersonal skills.
Practical nurses and staff nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Average salary | $75,363 | $68,342 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $120,000 | Between $42,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | Burlingame, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | University Hospitals | Washington Hospital Healthcare System |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a practical nurse and a staff nurse in terms of educational background:
| Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between practical nurses' and staff nurses' demographics:
| Practical Nurse | Staff Nurse | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |