Post job

Psychiatric nurse vs intensive care unit nurse

The differences between psychiatric nurses and intensive care unit nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an intensive care unit nurse has an average salary of $79,483, which is higher than the $64,922 average annual salary of a psychiatric nurse.

The top three skills for a psychiatric nurse include patients, mental illness and CPR. The most important skills for an intensive care unit nurse are patients, BLS, and acls.

Psychiatric nurse vs intensive care unit nurse overview

Psychiatric NurseIntensive Care Unit Nurse
Yearly salary$64,922$79,483
Hourly rate$31.21$38.21
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs608,055611,699
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4444
Years of experience2-

What does a psychiatric nurse do?

A Psychiatric Nurses role is to supervise the medication and treatment of patients diagnosed with mental disabilities, illnesses, or distresses. They have an essential role in the administration of psychiatric treatment and care.

What does an intensive care unit nurse do?

An Intensive Care Unit Nurse is specialized in providing care in intensive care units of hospitals. They assist in the treatment of acutely ill patients with life-threatening conditions.

Psychiatric nurse vs intensive care unit nurse salary

Psychiatric nurses and intensive care unit nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Psychiatric NurseIntensive Care Unit Nurse
Average salary$64,922$79,483
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $99,000Between $48,000 And $131,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CASanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNevada
Best paying companyHighland General HospitalDignity Health
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between psychiatric nurse and intensive care unit nurse education

There are a few differences between a psychiatric nurse and an intensive care unit nurse in terms of educational background:

Psychiatric NurseIntensive Care Unit Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Psychiatric nurse vs intensive care unit nurse demographics

Here are the differences between psychiatric nurses' and intensive care unit nurses' demographics:

Psychiatric NurseIntensive Care Unit Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 18.1% Female, 81.9%Male, 18.2% Female, 81.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between psychiatric nurse and intensive care unit nurse duties and responsibilities

Psychiatric nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Staff register nurse, acute medical rehabilitation unit.
  • Perform emergency triage differentiating psychiatric versus medical conditions.
  • Perform triage assessment, psychiatric evaluations, medication administration, psychotherapy and case management.
  • Provide comprehensive medical-psychiatric care to patients via assessment, planning, evaluation and supervision of therapeutic interactions.
  • Provide therapeutic communication and psychiatric rehabilitation with residents to assist with their recovery to return to the community.
  • Show more

Intensive care unit nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage pre- and post-surgical care, specifically for GI disorders.
  • Manage patients who suffer respiratory/cardiac arrest per ACLS protocol.
  • Manage patients requiring blood transfusions, iv antibiotic therapy, complications from chemotherapy and radiation.
  • Care for cardiac patients in CCU.
  • Incorporate ACLS and BLS algorithms on a frequent basis.
  • Provide care to ventilator dependent patients, tracheal care, and ICP monitoring.
  • Show more

Psychiatric nurse vs intensive care unit nurse skills

Common psychiatric nurse skills
  • Patients, 25%
  • Mental Illness, 11%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Therapeutic Interventions, 5%
  • Psychiatric Care, 4%
  • IV, 4%
Common intensive care unit nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • BLS, 18%
  • Acls, 13%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Catheter, 5%
  • Compassion, 5%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs