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Step-down nurse vs emergency department registered nurse

The differences between step-down nurses 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 step-down nurse and an emergency department registered nurse. Additionally, a step-down nurse has an average salary of $83,807, which is higher than the $81,260 average annual salary of an emergency department registered nurse.

The top three skills for a step-down nurse include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for an emergency department registered nurse are patients, acls, and acute care.

Step-down nurse vs emergency department registered nurse overview

Step-Down NurseEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Yearly salary$83,807$81,260
Hourly rate$40.29$39.07
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs435,149661,518
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Step-down nurse vs emergency department registered nurse salary

Step-down nurses and emergency department registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Step-Down NurseEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Average salary$83,807$81,260
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $133,000Between $48,000 And $135,000
Highest paying City-Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Whidbey General Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between step-down nurse and emergency department registered nurse education

There are a few differences between a step-down nurse and an emergency department registered nurse in terms of educational background:

Step-Down NurseEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Step-down nurse vs emergency department registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between step-down nurses' and emergency department registered nurses' demographics:

Step-Down NurseEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 17.3% Female, 82.8%Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% 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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between step-down nurse and emergency department registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Step-down nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Work with EKG monitor technicians to evaluate and interpret EKG strips.
  • Interpret laboratory results and cardiac tests, and proactively educate patients in health promotion and disease prevention.
  • Initiate intravenously therapy, administer medications, provide care for post-operative open-heart patients and post cardiac catheter patients.
  • Maintain responsibility for clinical activities of all nurses caring for patients assign, prepare annual evaluations on all nurses assign.
  • Perform electrocardiogram monitoring and medication administration.
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Emergency department registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor and manage chest tubes and various drainage devices along with pacer wires, epidural lines, and PCA pumps.
  • Stabilize critical patients through the use of BLS and ACLS protocols.
  • Assess patients and prioritize care: stabilize multiple critical patients using ACLS and BLS protocols.
  • Provide direct patient care including triage evaluation and treatment of patients presenting for care for medical/trauma/psychiatric care.
  • Perform triage, assessments, complete MD orders assist in treatment and admit or discharge patients requiring/receiving emergency care
  • Provide comprehensive care to patients that addressed the physical, social, spiritual and mental aspects of care and rehabilitation.
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Step-down nurse vs emergency department registered nurse skills

Common step-down nurse skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 8%
  • Life Support, 7%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Telemetry, 4%
Common emergency department registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Acls, 9%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Life Support, 4%
  • Patient Outcomes, 4%
  • Advanced Life Support, 3%

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