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Traveling nurse vs private duty nurse

The differences between traveling nurses and private duty 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 traveling nurse and a private duty nurse. Additionally, a traveling nurse has an average salary of $83,961, which is higher than the $55,518 average annual salary of a private duty nurse.

The top three skills for a traveling nurse include patients, acute care and healthcare. The most important skills for a private duty nurse are home health, patients, and medication administration.

Traveling nurse vs private duty nurse overview

Traveling NursePrivate Duty Nurse
Yearly salary$83,961$55,518
Hourly rate$40.37$26.69
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs585,515256,740
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 36%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a traveling nurse do?

Often employed under a staffing agency, a travel nurse primarily works short-term on different limited-staffed hospitals in cities all over a country, and even abroad on rare occasions. They are mainly responsible for providing treatment and immediate care to patients, administering medicine, assisting in various tasks, preparing meals, and other functions that the supervising colleague delegates. Furthermore, as a travel nurse, one must quickly familiarize the surroundings and colleagues to work efficiently, all while upholding their oath as health care workers.

What does a private duty nurse do?

A private duty nurse is responsible for providing quality health care services for a specific patient's medical needs. Private duty nurses work within a large health care institution or in a private household setting, depending on their scope and availability. They assist the medical staff in administering medications for the patients, conducting medical procedures, evaluating the patients' condition, and reporting progress and any updates to the attending physician for immediate attention. A private duty nurse must be highly attentive, especially on supporting the patient's daily activities and self-care needs.

Traveling nurse vs private duty nurse salary

Traveling nurses and private duty nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Traveling NursePrivate Duty Nurse
Average salary$83,961$55,518
Salary rangeBetween $53,000 And $132,000Between $41,000 And $74,000
Highest paying CityDetroit, MISpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiRhode Island
Best paying companyMaxim Healthcare GroupHealth First
Best paying industryProfessionalGovernment

Differences between traveling nurse and private duty nurse education

There are a few differences between a traveling nurse and a private duty nurse in terms of educational background:

Traveling NursePrivate Duty Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 36%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Traveling nurse vs private duty nurse demographics

Here are the differences between traveling nurses' and private duty nurses' demographics:

Traveling NursePrivate Duty Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 15.9% Female, 84.1%Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between traveling nurse and private duty nurse duties and responsibilities

Traveling nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage critically ill patient as a result of trauma, including vent management, ICP monitoring, and CRRT.
  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and/or urgent surgical patient in their post-operative, post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Manage bedside care per MD orders, administering medications, ensuring patient safety, assisting in ADL care, etc.
  • Monitor chemotherapy and administration of oral chemo medication, obtain laboratory specimens to manage client status via central lines.
  • Travel nurse who provide care to patients in SICU, MICU, CCU, and CVICU.
  • Work in both MICU and SICU
  • Show more

Private duty nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage Ventriculostomies and interpret ICP and CVP readings.
  • Manage patient care monitoring vital signs, performing physical assessment, checking patients medications for effectiveness.
  • Communicate with medicaid, and insurance companies to ensure patients receive appropriate care and payment of procedures and medication.
  • Provide daily assessments, ADL's medication management and any necessary medical treatments.
  • Monitor ventilator and oxygen saturation regularly; offer medication, treatments, and tracheostomy care.
  • Provide care to home bound individuals with tracheostomy, ventilator assistance patients, administration of medications, referrals
  • Show more

Traveling nurse vs private duty nurse skills

Common traveling nurse skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Acute Care, 10%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Acls, 6%
  • Surgery, 6%
  • Telemetry, 4%
Common private duty nurse skills
  • Home Health, 34%
  • Patients, 31%
  • Medication Administration, 3%
  • Hospice Care, 3%
  • Vital Signs, 3%
  • Trach Care, 3%

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