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The differences between private duty nurses and registered 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. Additionally, a registered nurse has an average salary of $73,349, 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 are patients, BLS, and CPR.
| Private Duty Nurse | Registered Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $55,518 | $73,349 |
| Hourly rate | $26.69 | $35.26 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 256,740 | 646,159 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 2.75 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| 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.
The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.
Private duty nurses and registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Private Duty Nurse | Registered Nurse | |
| Average salary | $55,518 | $73,349 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $74,000 | Between $45,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Springfield, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Health First | NORCAL Ambulance |
| Best paying industry | Government | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a private duty nurse and a registered nurse in terms of educational background:
| Private Duty Nurse | Registered Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between private duty nurses' and registered nurses' demographics:
| Private Duty Nurse | Registered Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4% | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |