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Registered nurse med/surg vs registered nurse charge nurse

The differences between registered nurse med/surgs and registered nurses charge 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 registered nurse charge nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse med/surg has an average salary of $84,812, which is higher than the $71,342 average annual salary of a registered nurse charge nurse.

The top three skills for a registered nurse med/surg include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for a registered nurse charge nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Registered nurse med/surg vs registered nurse charge nurse overview

Registered Nurse Med/SurgRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Yearly salary$84,812$71,342
Hourly rate$40.77$34.30
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs515,200645,134
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Associate Degree, 51%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a registered nurse med/surg do?

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.

What does a registered nurse charge nurse do?

A registered charge nurse is responsible for supervising nurses' workflow in a particular department or area, ensuring every patient gets the proper care that they need. A registered charge nurse has the discretion to direct tasks, arrange schedules, and monitor patients, such as in the aspects of admission and discharge. Furthermore, a registered charge nurse must maintain an active line of communication and coordination among nurses, physicians, and other personnel involved as the conditions in a hospital can be unpredictable.

Registered nurse med/surg vs registered nurse charge nurse salary

Registered nurse med/surgs and registered nurses charge nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Registered Nurse Med/SurgRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average salary$84,812$71,342
Salary rangeBetween $49,000 And $145,000Between $46,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CityLancaster, CASan Diego, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandHawaii
Best paying companyDignity HealthAlameda Health System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between registered nurse med/surg and registered nurse charge nurse education

There are a few differences between a registered nurse med/surg and a registered nurse charge nurse in terms of educational background:

Registered Nurse Med/SurgRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 46%Associate Degree, 51%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Registered nurse med/surg vs registered nurse charge nurse demographics

Here are the differences between registered nurse med/surgs' and registered nurses charge nurses' demographics:

Registered Nurse Med/SurgRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 10.9% Female, 89.1%Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 11.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between registered nurse med/surg and registered nurse charge nurse duties and responsibilities

Registered nurse med/surg example responsibilities.

  • Manage respiratory ventilator, EKG equipment, intravenous and oral medication, intravenous pump machine, and blood products transfusion.
  • Achieve telemetry and BLS certification.
  • Interact with professionalism and compassion to consistently achieve confidence in care.
  • Manage and care for medical-surgical ICU patients including neurology and plastic surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide compassion to patients and family members ensuring optimal levels of comfort and privacy
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Registered nurse charge nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage intravenous therapy via peripheral and central catheters; antibiotic, TPN/lipid, constant cardiac medication infusion and fluid administration.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Assess and carefully monitor medically diverse patients who require telemetry and safely administer medications.
  • Collaborate with ICU team to provide excellent patient care utilizing critical thinking skills and evidence-base practice.
  • Document patient medical history and symptoms, administer treatment and medications, and follow-up with patients during rehabilitation.
  • Respond to codes, administering CPR and oxygen, monitoring vitals and preparing medications in anticipation of physician orders.
  • Show more

Registered nurse med/surg vs registered nurse charge nurse skills

Common registered nurse med/surg skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • BLS, 16%
  • Acute Care, 8%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%
  • Discharge Planning, 2%
Common registered nurse charge nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%

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