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Surgical nurse vs scrub nurse

The differences between surgical nurses and scrub 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 surgical nurse and a scrub nurse. Additionally, a scrub nurse has an average salary of $66,672, which is higher than the $64,025 average annual salary of a surgical nurse.

The top three skills for a surgical nurse include patients, BLS and acute care. The most important skills for a scrub nurse are patients, surgery site, and direct patient care.

Surgical nurse vs scrub nurse overview

Surgical NurseScrub Nurse
Yearly salary$64,025$66,672
Hourly rate$30.78$32.05
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs638,444635,835
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

Surgical nurse vs scrub nurse salary

Surgical nurses and scrub nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgical NurseScrub Nurse
Average salary$64,025$66,672
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $103,000Between $43,000 And $103,000
Highest paying CityThousand Oaks, CA-
Highest paying stateHawaii-
Best paying companyUniversity of California, Berkeley-
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between surgical nurse and scrub nurse education

There are a few differences between a surgical nurse and a scrub nurse in terms of educational background:

Surgical NurseScrub Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Surgical nurse vs scrub nurse demographics

Here are the differences between surgical nurses' and scrub nurses' demographics:

Surgical NurseScrub Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 11.2% Female, 88.8%Male, 15.4% Female, 84.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between surgical nurse and scrub nurse duties and responsibilities

Surgical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage GI bleeds, asthmatics, bowel resections, fractures, patients with chest and feeding tubes.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Maintain BLS, NRP, ACLS
  • Prepare patients for procedures, initiate and maintain intravenous therapy, and obtain 12-lead EKG.
  • Establish care plans and perform care for ICU, CCU, cardiac, and neurological patients.
  • Serve as a BLS/ ACLS instructor.
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Scrub nurse example responsibilities.

  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Assist scrub nurse in the setup, arrangement and count of surgical equipment and sponges.
  • Maintain and accurately document proper counting of instruments, sponges and needles as per policy.
  • Include teaching at community outreach seminars and optometry seminars for patients and physicians
  • Provide teaching to patients and families regarding health care preparation in ambulatory/outpatient care.
  • Perform and participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
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Surgical nurse vs scrub nurse skills

Common surgical nurse skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • BLS, 15%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
  • Quality Care, 3%
Common scrub nurse skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Surgery Site, 11%
  • Direct Patient Care, 6%
  • Surgical Procedures, 6%
  • GYN, 5%
  • Ortho, 5%

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