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The differences between registered nurse med/surgs and emergency department 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 med/surg and an emergency department registered nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse med/surg has an average salary of $84,812, which is higher than the $81,260 average annual salary of an emergency department registered nurse.
The top three skills for a registered nurse med/surg include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for an emergency department registered nurse are patients, acls, and acute care.
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Emergency Department Registered Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $84,812 | $81,260 |
| Hourly rate | $40.77 | $39.07 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 515,200 | 661,518 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
The job of registered medical-surgical nurses is to care for patients with either surgical or non-surgical conditions. They are responsible for aiding patients to cope with their illness, prevent diseases, and promote good health. Entry-level registered nurses often rely on standardized care plans and medical procedures and make scientific-based nursing judgments. On the other hand, intermediate level nurses are more skilled in developing care plans that meet client needs. Requirements to become a medical-surgical nurse include a college degree in nursing, excellent assessment and observation skills, and patient education skills.
An emergency registered nurse is first in line for patients who need a response. These nurses are first to respond to emergency cases such as trauma, allergic reactions, and injuries. They assist doctors and other medical staff in emergency medical care. It is their responsibility to always provide high-quality standards for nursing. The skills they should possess include diligence, attention to detail, levelheadedness, and strong communication. They also need to be knowledgeable about emergency care.
Registered nurse med/surgs and emergency department registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Emergency Department Registered Nurse | |
| Average salary | $84,812 | $81,260 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $145,000 | Between $48,000 And $135,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Dignity Health | Whidbey General Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a registered nurse med/surg and an emergency department registered nurse in terms of educational background:
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Emergency Department Registered Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between registered nurse med/surgs' and emergency department registered nurses' demographics:
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Emergency Department Registered Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.9% Female, 89.1% | Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 9.1% White, 65.9% 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 Percentage | 9% | 9% |