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The differences between registered nurses and practical 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 registered nurse and a practical nurse. Additionally, a practical nurse has an average salary of $75,363, 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 practical nurse are patients, APN, and home health.
| Registered Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $73,349 | $75,363 |
| Hourly rate | $35.26 | $36.23 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 646,159 | 511,602 |
| Job satisfaction | 2.75 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A practical nurse is responsible for providing the highest quality care services for the patients and assisting them with their needs and concerns. Practical nurses work within a health institution or private household to support the patients in their daily activities, monitor their conditions, administer medication, and inform the doctors of their health updates. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to develop nursing care plans and activities to suit the patients' lifestyle and keep their active wellbeing.
Registered nurses and practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Average salary | $73,349 | $75,363 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $117,000 | Between $47,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Lancaster, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | NORCAL Ambulance | University Hospitals |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a registered nurse and a practical nurse in terms of educational background:
| Registered Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 30% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Emory University |
Here are the differences between registered nurses' and practical nurses' demographics:
| Registered Nurse | Practical Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7% | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% |
| 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, 12.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |