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Private duty nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse

The differences between private duty nurses and registered nurses charge 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 registered nurse charge nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse charge nurse has an average salary of $71,342, 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 registered nurse charge nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Private duty nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse overview

Private Duty NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Yearly salary$55,518$71,342
Hourly rate$26.69$34.30
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs256,740645,134
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 51%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a private duty nurse do?

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.

What does a registered nurse charge nurse do?

A registered charge nurse is responsible for supervising nurses' workflow in a particular department or area, ensuring every patient gets the proper care that they need. A registered charge nurse has the discretion to direct tasks, arrange schedules, and monitor patients, such as in the aspects of admission and discharge. Furthermore, a registered charge nurse must maintain an active line of communication and coordination among nurses, physicians, and other personnel involved as the conditions in a hospital can be unpredictable.

Private duty nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse salary

Private duty nurses and registered nurses charge nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Private Duty NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average salary$55,518$71,342
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $74,000Between $46,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, MASan Diego, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandHawaii
Best paying companyHealth FirstAlameda Health System
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between private duty nurse and registered nurse charge nurse education

There are a few differences between a private duty nurse and a registered nurse charge nurse in terms of educational background:

Private Duty NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%Associate Degree, 51%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Private duty nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse demographics

Here are the differences between private duty nurses' and registered nurses charge nurses' demographics:

Private Duty NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.6% Female, 90.4%Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between private duty nurse and registered nurse charge nurse duties and responsibilities

Private duty nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage Ventriculostomies and interpret ICP and CVP readings.
  • Manage patient care monitoring vital signs, performing physical assessment, checking patients medications for effectiveness.
  • Communicate with medicaid, and insurance companies to ensure patients receive appropriate care and payment of procedures and medication.
  • Provide daily assessments, ADL's medication management and any necessary medical treatments.
  • Monitor ventilator and oxygen saturation regularly; offer medication, treatments, and tracheostomy care.
  • Provide care to home bound individuals with tracheostomy, ventilator assistance patients, administration of medications, referrals
  • Show more

Registered nurse charge nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage intravenous therapy via peripheral and central catheters; antibiotic, TPN/lipid, constant cardiac medication infusion and fluid administration.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Assess and carefully monitor medically diverse patients who require telemetry and safely administer medications.
  • Collaborate with ICU team to provide excellent patient care utilizing critical thinking skills and evidence-base practice.
  • Document patient medical history and symptoms, administer treatment and medications, and follow-up with patients during rehabilitation.
  • Respond to codes, administering CPR and oxygen, monitoring vitals and preparing medications in anticipation of physician orders.
  • Show more

Private duty nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse skills

Common private duty nurse skills
  • Home Health, 34%
  • Patients, 31%
  • Medication Administration, 3%
  • Hospice Care, 3%
  • Vital Signs, 3%
  • Trach Care, 3%
Common registered nurse charge nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%

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