Post job

Registered nurse vs psychiatric registered nurse

The differences between registered nurses and psychiatric 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 registered nurse and a psychiatric registered nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse has an average salary of $73,349, which is higher than the $73,053 average annual salary of a psychiatric registered nurse.

The top three skills for a registered nurse include patients, BLS and CPR. The most important skills for a psychiatric registered nurse are patients, home health, and patient safety.

Registered nurse vs psychiatric registered nurse overview

Registered NursePsychiatric Registered Nurse
Yearly salary$73,349$73,053
Hourly rate$35.26$35.12
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs646,159640,480
Job satisfaction2.75-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Associate Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a registered nurse do?

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.

What does a psychiatric registered nurse do?

A registered psychiatric nurse works alongside mental health experts to develop and administer psychiatric treatment plans according to the patients' needs. Among their responsibilities include gathering and organizing patient information, studying the patients' medical histories, conducting interviews and assessments, providing counseling, administering medicine, and restraining unsettled patients. There are also instances when they must conduct inspections to remove potentially harmful objects and provide psychoeducation to the patients' families. Above all, a registered psychiatric nurse must closely monitor the behavior of patients, record their daily progress, and report to the psychiatrists regularly.

Registered nurse vs psychiatric registered nurse salary

Registered nurses and psychiatric registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Registered NursePsychiatric Registered Nurse
Average salary$73,349$73,053
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $117,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyNORCAL AmbulanceScripps Health
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between registered nurse and psychiatric registered nurse education

There are a few differences between a registered nurse and a psychiatric registered nurse in terms of educational background:

Registered NursePsychiatric Registered Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Associate Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Registered nurse vs psychiatric registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between registered nurses' and psychiatric registered nurses' demographics:

Registered NursePsychiatric Registered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 12.3% Female, 87.7%Male, 16.7% Female, 83.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between registered nurse and psychiatric registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
  • Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
  • Show more

Psychiatric 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.
  • Collaborate with psychiatrists and therapists to coordinate detoxification protocol, medical and psychiatric care for mental health and substance abuse patients.
  • Perform psychiatric nursing assessments and medication management for patients in a residential detox and rehab for alcohol and substance abuse.
  • Certify CPR instructor and conduct CPR training sessions.
  • Staff RN; function in various duties of triage, staff, and charge nurse positions.
  • Communicate triage decisions to psychiatrists.
  • Show more

Registered nurse vs psychiatric registered nurse skills

Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%
Common psychiatric registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Patient Safety, 4%
  • Substance Abuse, 4%
  • Triage, 4%
  • IM, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs