Staff Nurse vs. Registered Nurse: What Are the Differences?

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families. Staff nurses are a type of RN who work in hospitals and other health care facilities. In this article, we compare and contrast the job duties, educational requirements, and salary expectations of staff nurses and registered nurses.

What is a Staff Nurse?

Staff Nurses work in a variety of medical settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices and long-term care facilities. They provide direct patient care, including administering medication, monitoring vital signs and providing emotional support. Staff Nurses also develop and implement patient care plans, coordinate with other members of the healthcare team and educate patients and their families about their condition and treatment options. In some cases, Staff Nurses may also supervise other nurses and support staff.

What is a Registered Nurse?

Registered Nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members. RNs may specialize in a particular area of nursing, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or oncology. They often work in hospitals, but may also work in clinics, private practices, or home health care settings. RNs use a variety of equipment, including syringes, IVs, and thermometers, to provide care to patients. They also keep detailed records of patients’ medical histories and treatments.

Staff Nurse vs. Registered Nurse

Here are the main differences between a staff nurse and a registered nurse.

Job Duties

One of the biggest differences between staff and registered nurses is the type of job duties they have. Staff nurses are only responsible for performing patient care tasks, which means their responsibilities are limited to things like feeding patients, helping them use the bathroom, assisting with physical therapy and keeping them company.

Staff nurses rarely perform administrative or managerial duties, so they spend most of their time directly caring for patients. The daily activities of a registered nurse are more varied because of their management and supervisory roles. They may perform things like scheduling doctors’ shifts, reviewing patients’ medical records, ordering supplies and conducting staff training.

Job Requirements

Staff nurses typically need to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, although some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree. Additionally, staff nurses must be licensed as registered nurses (RNs) through their state’s board of nursing. To become an RN, you must first pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Some states also require RNs to complete continuing education credits to renew their licenses.

Registered nurses can enter the field with either an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. However, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree. In addition to completing an accredited nursing program, RNs must also pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Once they have passed the exam and obtained their license, RNs must renew their license every two years by completing continuing education credits.

Work Environment

Registered nurses and staff nurses work in different environments. Staff nurses typically work in hospitals, nursing homes or other medical facilities. They may also work for private companies that provide care to patients at home.

Registered nurses usually work in hospitals, but they can also find employment in doctor’s offices, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, psychiatric institutions and more.

Skills

Both staff nurses and registered nurses use a variety of skills in their jobs. These can include clinical skills, like taking patient vital signs and administering medication, as well as interpersonal skills, like communicating with patients and their families.

One key difference between the two roles is that registered nurses typically have more responsibilities than staff nurses. Registered nurses may oversee a team of staff nurses or be responsible for managing a unit within a hospital. As a result, they often need to have strong leadership and management skills. They may also need to be able to work independently, as they may not have as much direct supervision from a doctor or other health care professional.

Another difference is that registered nurses usually have more education than staff nurses. Most registered nurses have at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing, while staff nurses typically have an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing. Registered nurses may also have specialized training in a particular area of nursing, such as pediatrics or geriatrics.

Salary

The average salary for a staff nurse is $77,892 per year, while the average salary for a registered nurse is $77,033 per year. Both of these salaries can vary depending on the type of facility you work in, your level of experience and your location.