Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between private duty nurses and practical 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 private duty nurse and a practical nurse. Additionally, a practical nurse has an average salary of $75,363, which is higher than the $55,518 average annual salary of a private duty nurse.
The top three skills for a private duty nurse include home health, patients and medication administration. The most important skills for a practical nurse are patients, APN, and home health.
| Private Duty Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $55,518 | $75,363 |
| Hourly rate | $26.69 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 256,740 | 511,602 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A private duty nurse is responsible for providing quality health care services for a specific patient's medical needs. Private duty nurses work within a large health care institution or in a private household setting, depending on their scope and availability. They assist the medical staff in administering medications for the patients, conducting medical procedures, evaluating the patients' condition, and reporting progress and any updates to the attending physician for immediate attention. A private duty nurse must be highly attentive, especially on supporting the patient's daily activities and self-care needs.
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.
Private duty nurses and practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Private Duty Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Average salary | $55,518 | $75,363 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $74,000 | Between $47,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Springfield, MA | Lancaster, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Health First | University Hospitals |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a private duty nurse and a practical nurse in terms of educational background:
| Private Duty Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Emory University |
Here are the differences between private duty nurses' and practical nurses' demographics:
| Private Duty Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4% | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |