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Public health nurse vs clinic registered nurse

The differences between public health nurses and clinic 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 public health nurse and a clinic registered nurse. Additionally, a clinic registered nurse has an average salary of $70,075, which is higher than the $60,319 average annual salary of a public health nurse.

The top three skills for a public health nurse include community health, patients and health education. The most important skills for a clinic registered nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Public health nurse vs clinic registered nurse overview

Public Health NurseClinic Registered Nurse
Yearly salary$60,319$70,075
Hourly rate$29.00$33.69
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs310,843520,812
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a public health nurse do?

A Public Health Nurse maintains the public's health through providing health services and information. They promote a healthy lifestyle, take part in health campaigns, and educate and inform the public about issues, such as preventing disease.

What does a clinic registered nurse do?

A clinic registered nurse is responsible for providing immediate care and treatments to patients while working alongside physicians and specialists. Assigned in a clinic or similar setting, they are mostly responsible for obtaining patient information and medical history, administering appropriate medication, and coordinating with health care experts. Moreover, they must thoroughly discuss necessary information to patients and their guardians and respond to any inquiries under the physician's guidelines. It is essential to make patients feel at ease and implement the policies of the clinic.

Public health nurse vs clinic registered nurse salary

Public health nurses and clinic registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Public Health NurseClinic Registered Nurse
Average salary$60,319$70,075
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $84,000Between $43,000 And $113,000
Highest paying CitySan Mateo, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateHawaiiRhode Island
Best paying companyDignity HealthHighland General Hospital
Best paying industryGovernmentProfessional

Differences between public health nurse and clinic registered nurse education

There are a few differences between a public health nurse and a clinic registered nurse in terms of educational background:

Public Health NurseClinic Registered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Public health nurse vs clinic registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between public health nurses' and clinic registered nurses' demographics:

Public Health NurseClinic Registered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 7.5% Female, 92.5%Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between public health nurse and clinic registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Public health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
  • Assist in application of traction devices.perform routine tests such as urine dip stick, vision and hearing tests.
  • Dispense medications and provide education for TB patients.
  • Provide basic CPR classes at the community level as well.
  • Produce and conduct staff classes such as CPR, respiratory protection, infectious diseases, etc.
  • Instruct family in the care and rehabilitation of patient, maintenance of health and prevention of disease for family members.
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Clinic registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Perform both admissions and discharge of patients within the CICU as well as transferring patients to ICU or other units.
  • Perform nursing functions in critical care units including ER, MICU, CCU, SICU in various hospitals and medical centers.
  • Provide patient education that includes information about diagnosis, plan surgical procedures, post-surgical care, and physical rehabilitation procedures.
  • Provide involved detail clinical evaluations of patients within the acute rehabilitation center along with needs for transition of care after discharge.
  • Provide prenatal care education to ob triage patients to aide in fetal well-being.
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Public health nurse vs clinic registered nurse skills

Common public health nurse skills
  • Community Health, 10%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Health Education, 8%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Communicable Diseases, 5%
  • Home Health, 3%
Common clinic registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • BLS, 11%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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