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Registered nurse vs senior registered nurse

The differences between registered nurses and senior 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 senior registered nurse. Additionally, a senior registered nurse has an average salary of $74,261, 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 senior registered nurse are patients, home health, and acute care.

Registered nurse vs senior registered nurse overview

Registered NurseSenior Registered Nurse
Yearly salary$73,349$74,261
Hourly rate$35.26$35.70
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs646,159521,285
Job satisfaction2.75-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
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 senior registered nurse do?

A senior registered nurse is a superior healthcare professional who provides high-quality palliative care to patients and their families. Senior registered nurses are required to liaise between patients and other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. They lead a team of registered nurses and care assistants to ensure that they follow the hospital's best practice care standards. Senior registered nurses also administer and order medicines as required by patients and the hospital's policies and procedures.

Registered nurse vs senior registered nurse salary

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

Registered NurseSenior Registered Nurse
Average salary$73,349$74,261
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $117,000Between $49,000 And $111,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAOxnard, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyNORCAL AmbulanceDignity Health
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between registered nurse and senior registered nurse education

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

Registered NurseSenior Registered Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Registered nurse vs senior registered nurse demographics

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

Registered NurseSenior Registered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 12.3% Female, 87.7%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 9.5% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between registered nurse and senior 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.
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Senior registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Code team member, triage, manage a team of 5 patients and 3 providers.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Care for critically ill patients in the ICU.
  • Provide triage, referrals, direct nursing care, and medication administration to incarcerate population.
  • Elbow support for new Cerner EMR system.
  • Implement and coordinate unit education programs covering CPR and newborn care.
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Registered nurse vs senior registered nurse skills

Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%
Common senior registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Home Health, 9%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Care Coordination, 6%
  • Discharge Planning, 5%
  • BLS, 5%

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