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Practical nurse vs staff nurse

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 vs staff nurse overview

Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Yearly salary$75,363$68,342
Hourly rate$36.23$32.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs511,602699,636
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
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 staff nurse do?

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 nurse vs staff nurse salary

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

Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Average salary$75,363$68,342
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $120,000Between $42,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityLancaster, CABurlingame, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity HospitalsWashington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between practical nurse and staff nurse education

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

Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Practical nurse vs staff nurse demographics

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

Practical NurseStaff Nurse
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 14.3% Female, 85.7%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between practical nurse and staff nurse 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

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.
  • Show more

Practical nurse vs staff nurse skills

Common practical nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • APN, 7%
  • Home Health, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Physical Examinations, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%

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