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Staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse

The differences between staff nurses 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 staff nurse and a registered nurse charge nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse charge nurse has an average salary of $71,342, which is higher than the $68,342 average annual salary of a staff nurse.

The top three skills for a staff nurse include patients, BLS and CPR. The most important skills for a registered nurse charge nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse overview

Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Yearly salary$68,342$71,342
Hourly rate$32.86$34.30
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs699,636645,134
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Associate Degree, 51%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a staff nurse do?

Staff nurses are registered nurses who are usually assigned to work in a care home, a company, or in a clinical setting. They advise the physical assessments of patients, employees, and residents. They also handle the checking of vital signs, providing basic medical procedures, giving first aid, and, if possible, providing over the counter medication. Staff nurses provide medical attention to the people in their place of assignment. They help pave the path to their patients' full recovery. Staff nurses are expected to be patient and have good interpersonal 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.

Staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse salary

Staff nurses and registered nurses charge nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average salary$68,342$71,342
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $109,000Between $46,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CityBurlingame, CASan Diego, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyWashington Hospital Healthcare SystemAlameda Health System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between staff nurse and registered nurse charge nurse education

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

Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Associate Degree, 51%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse demographics

Here are the differences between staff nurses' and registered nurses charge nurses' demographics:

Staff NurseRegistered Nurse Charge Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 12.3% Female, 87.7%Male, 12.1% Female, 87.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% 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 staff nurse and registered nurse charge nurse duties and responsibilities

Staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.
  • Provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings with an emphasis in critical care and PACU settings.
  • Prepare patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures including initiating intravenous lines, physical assessments and administering medications.
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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.
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Staff nurse vs registered nurse charge nurse skills

Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%
Common registered nurse charge nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Acls, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%

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