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Triage nurse vs nurse

The differences between triage 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 triage nurse and a nurse. Additionally, a triage nurse has an average salary of $64,592, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.

The top three skills for a triage nurse include patients, home health and patient education. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

Triage nurse vs nurse overview

Triage NurseNurse
Yearly salary$64,592$57,564
Hourly rate$31.05$27.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs345,410696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a triage nurse do?

A triage nurse provides patient care and overall nursing duties alongside the resident doctor in a clinic or hospital. It is the task of a triage nurse to oversee the condition of each patient and to report immediately to a doctor when emergencies occur. Added tasks of a triage nurse are monitoring and administering doctor prescriptions, and providing a caring environment for patients and their relatives through constant communication. The triage nurse is an essential part of a healthcare facility and is in-demand in many places around the world.

What does a nurse do?

Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.

Triage nurse vs nurse salary

Triage nurses and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Triage NurseNurse
Average salary$64,592$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $95,000Between $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 triage nurse and nurse education

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

Triage NurseNurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Triage nurse vs nurse demographics

Here are the differences between triage nurses' and nurses' demographics:

Triage NurseNurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.1% Female, 90.9%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% 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 triage nurse and nurse duties and responsibilities

Triage nurse example responsibilities.

  • Recognize and manage maternal complications: hemorrhage, preeclampsia, endometritis.
  • Provide outpatient chemotherapy administration, patient education and telephone triage of patients undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Follow up on denials and appeals.
  • Experience in initiating prior authorizations, denials, and appeals.
  • Perform EKG's, labs, vision screening, hearing tests, pulmonary function tests.
  • Handle all heavy phone scheduling which include visits, blood work, diagnostic testing and cardiac rehabilitation.
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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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Triage nurse vs nurse skills

Common triage nurse skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Home Health, 10%
  • Patient Education, 4%
  • Test Results, 3%
  • Symptom Management, 3%
  • Urgent Care, 3%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

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