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The differences between practical nurses and triage 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 triage nurse. Additionally, a practical nurse has an average salary of $75,363, which is higher than the $64,592 average annual salary of a triage nurse.
The top three skills for a practical nurse include patients, APN and home health. The most important skills for a triage nurse are patients, home health, and patient education.
| Practical Nurse | Triage Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $75,363 | $64,592 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $31.05 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 511,602 | 345,410 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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.
A triage nurse provides patient care and overall nursing duties alongside the resident doctor in a clinic or hospital. It is the task of a triage nurse to oversee the condition of each patient and to report immediately to a doctor when emergencies occur. Added tasks of a triage nurse are monitoring and administering doctor prescriptions, and providing a caring environment for patients and their relatives through constant communication. The triage nurse is an essential part of a healthcare facility and is in-demand in many places around the world.
Practical nurses and triage nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Practical Nurse | Triage Nurse | |
| Average salary | $75,363 | $64,592 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $120,000 | Between $43,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | University Hospitals | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a practical nurse and a triage nurse in terms of educational background:
| Practical Nurse | Triage Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between practical nurses' and triage nurses' demographics:
| Practical Nurse | Triage Nurse | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% | Male, 9.1% Female, 90.9% |
| 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, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |