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Utilization review nurse vs staff nurse

The differences between utilization review nurses and staff 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 utilization review nurse and a staff nurse. Additionally, a staff nurse has an average salary of $68,342, which is higher than the $65,425 average annual salary of a utilization review nurse.

The top three skills for a utilization review nurse include medical necessity, patients and acute care. The most important skills for a staff nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Utilization review nurse vs staff nurse overview

Utilization Review NurseStaff Nurse
Yearly salary$65,425$68,342
Hourly rate$31.45$32.86
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs29,776699,636
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a utilization review nurse do?

The primary role of an Utilization Review Nurse is to analyze the condition of each patient carefully and decide if the patient still needs to stay in the hospital or be sent home. They deal with patients' relatives, doctors, and people from insurance companies.

What does a staff nurse do?

Staff nurses are registered nurses who are usually assigned to work in a care home, a company, or in a clinical setting. They advise the physical assessments of patients, employees, and residents. They also handle the checking of vital signs, providing basic medical procedures, giving first aid, and, if possible, providing over the counter medication. Staff nurses provide medical attention to the people in their place of assignment. They help pave the path to their patients' full recovery. Staff nurses are expected to be patient and have good interpersonal skills.

Utilization review nurse vs staff nurse salary

Utilization review nurses and staff nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Utilization Review NurseStaff Nurse
Average salary$65,425$68,342
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $89,000Between $42,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityAlameda, CABurlingame, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyMolina HealthcareWashington Hospital Healthcare System
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between utilization review nurse and staff nurse education

There are a few differences between a utilization review nurse and a staff nurse in terms of educational background:

Utilization Review NurseStaff Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Utilization review nurse vs staff nurse demographics

Here are the differences between utilization review nurses' and staff nurses' demographics:

Utilization Review NurseStaff Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 8.5% Female, 91.5%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% 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 utilization review nurse and staff nurse duties and responsibilities

Utilization review nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Case management for acute patients refer to LTC
  • Advise insurance carriers on recommend reimbursement for charges following automate bill audit utilizing ICD-9 and CPT codes.
  • Provide caregiver oversight relate to care, medication administration and emergency situations.
  • Identify inappropriate utilization of services/settings through the application of establish clinical criteria using InterQual and CMS guidelines for medical necessity.
  • Direct contact with IPA providers.
  • Show more

Staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage and further help stabilize elective and urgent care surgical patients in their post-operative/post PACU admission to the floor.
  • Accomplish extensive critical care course with EKG interpretation and yearly critical care medication exam.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Participate in discharge planning including teaching family members and patients wind care and medication administration process after discharge.
  • Provide direct nursing care to patients in a variety of settings with an emphasis in critical care and PACU settings.
  • Prepare patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures including initiating intravenous lines, physical assessments and administering medications.
  • Show more

Utilization review nurse vs staff nurse skills

Common utilization review nurse skills
  • Medical Necessity, 9%
  • Patients, 7%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Discharge Planning, 7%
  • Utilization Management, 6%
  • Utilization Review, 6%
Common staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 9%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Acute Care, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%

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