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Step-down nurse vs nurse

The differences between step-down nurses and 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 a nurse. Additionally, a step-down nurse has an average salary of $83,807, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.

The top three skills for a step-down nurse include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

Step-down nurse vs nurse overview

Step-Down NurseNurse
Yearly salary$83,807$57,564
Hourly rate$40.29$27.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs435,149696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Step-down nurse vs nurse salary

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

Step-Down NurseNurse
Average salary$83,807$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $133,000Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Conviva
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between step-down nurse and nurse education

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

Step-Down NurseNurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Step-down nurse vs nurse demographics

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

Step-Down NurseNurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 17.3% Female, 82.8%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between step-down nurse and 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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Nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
  • Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
  • Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
  • Provide care for patients on medical/surgical, transplant, cardiac, orthopedic, postpartum, neonatal ICU, and psychiatric units
  • Demonstrate competence in CPR and other medical emergency situations.
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Step-down nurse vs nurse skills

Common step-down nurse skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 8%
  • Life Support, 7%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Telemetry, 4%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

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