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Private duty nurse vs triage nurse

The differences between private duty 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 private duty nurse and a triage nurse. Additionally, a triage nurse has an average salary of $64,592, 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 triage nurse are patients, home health, and patient education.

Private duty nurse vs triage nurse overview

Private Duty NurseTriage Nurse
Yearly salary$55,518$64,592
Hourly rate$26.69$31.05
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs256,740345,410
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
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 triage nurse do?

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.

Private duty nurse vs triage nurse salary

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

Private Duty NurseTriage Nurse
Average salary$55,518$64,592
Salary rangeBetween $41,000 And $74,000Between $43,000 And $95,000
Highest paying CitySpringfield, MA-
Highest paying stateRhode Island-
Best paying companyHealth First-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between private duty nurse and triage nurse education

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

Private Duty NurseTriage Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Private duty nurse vs triage nurse demographics

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

Private Duty NurseTriage Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.6% Female, 90.4%Male, 9.1% Female, 90.9%
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, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between private duty nurse and triage 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

Triage nurse example responsibilities.

  • Recognize and manage maternal complications: hemorrhage, preeclampsia, endometritis.
  • Provide outpatient chemotherapy administration, patient education and telephone triage of patients undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Follow up on denials and appeals.
  • Experience in initiating prior authorizations, denials, and appeals.
  • Perform EKG's, labs, vision screening, hearing tests, pulmonary function tests.
  • Handle all heavy phone scheduling which include visits, blood work, diagnostic testing and cardiac rehabilitation.
  • Show more

Private duty nurse vs triage 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 triage nurse skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Patient Education, 4%
  • Test Results, 3%
  • Symptom Management, 3%
  • Urgent Care, 3%

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