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The differences between registered nurses and clinical nurse specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a registered nurse, becoming a clinical nurse specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a clinical nurse specialist has an average salary of $77,086, which is higher than the $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.
The top three skills for a registered nurse include patients, BLS and CPR. The most important skills for a clinical nurse specialist are patients, BLS, and clinical practice.
| Registered Nurse | Clinical Nurse Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,349 | $77,086 |
| Hourly rate | $35.26 | $37.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 646,159 | 268,303 |
| Job satisfaction | 2.75 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) serve as experts in practicing nursing based on evidence in one or more specialty areas. These nurses use their advanced knowledge and experience in assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients. CNS is known to be called nurse educators for being assigned to conduct lectures in educational institutions due to their extensive effort to improve their craft. Additionally, their experience and expertise in a certain medical specialty qualify them to do case research.
Registered nurses and clinical nurse specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Nurse | Clinical Nurse Specialist | |
| Average salary | $73,349 | $77,086 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $117,000 | Between $54,000 And $109,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | NORCAL Ambulance | Mayo Clinic |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a registered nurse and a clinical nurse specialist in terms of educational background:
| Registered Nurse | Clinical Nurse Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between registered nurses' and clinical nurse specialists' demographics:
| Registered Nurse | Clinical Nurse Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% | Male, 9.9% Female, 90.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |