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The differences between registered nurse med/surgs and hospice 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 a hospice registered nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse med/surg has an average salary of $84,812, which is higher than the $74,997 average annual salary of a hospice registered nurse.
The top three skills for a registered nurse med/surg include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for a hospice registered nurse are home health, patients, and palliative care.
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Hospice Registered Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $84,812 | $74,997 |
| Hourly rate | $40.77 | $36.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 515,200 | 509,161 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| 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.
A hospice registered nurse is primarily responsible for assisting and taking care of patients admitted to hospice facilities. Their responsibilities revolve around devising specific care plans for every patient in coordination with physicians and other health care workers, administering necessary medication, helping patients cope with the symptoms of their ailments, and maintaining accurate records. Moreover, it is vital to visit patients regularly to assess their conditions, notifying doctors should there be any urgent updates. Furthermore, it is essential to build positive relationships with patients, supporting and making them feel comfortable at all times.
Registered nurse med/surgs and hospice registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Hospice Registered Nurse | |
| Average salary | $84,812 | $74,997 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $145,000 | Between $50,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | Providence, RI |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Dignity Health | Oculus |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a registered nurse med/surg and a hospice registered nurse in terms of educational background:
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Hospice Registered Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between registered nurse med/surgs' and hospice registered nurses' demographics:
| Registered Nurse Med/Surg | Hospice Registered Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.9% Female, 89.1% | Male, 10.2% Female, 89.8% |
| 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, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |