Dental Assistant vs Registered Nurse (RN)

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Pay

Dental Assistant

$46,800 typical, a year

Most Dental Assistants earn $41,600 to $53,000 a year.

From 3,058 postings that list pay

5,898 open jobs now

Dental Assistant salaries Dental Assistant jobs

Registered Nurse

$89,400 typical, a year

Most RNs earn $80,100 to $103,000 a year.

From 17,789 postings that list pay

107,206 open jobs now

Registered Nurse salaries Registered Nurse jobs

RNs typically earn about $42,600 more a year than Dental Assistants.

What each one does

Dental Assistant

  • Assist dentists during dental procedures.
  • Sterilize instruments and clean treatment rooms.
  • Take and process dental X-rays.
  • Educate patients on oral hygiene and care.
  • Prepare patients for dental exams and treatments.
  • Document patient information and treatment plans.

Summed up from 30 job postings

Registered Nurse

  • Administer medications and treatments to patients as ordered by a physician.
  • Monitor patient health and record vital signs or changes in condition.
  • Create and update patient medical records and care plans.
  • Communicate with patients, families, and medical staff about care.
  • Coordinate care with other healthcare team members.
  • Supervise nursing assistants or other staff members.

Summed up from 30 job postings

Skills employers ask for

Dental Assistant

Asked for in both

  • Direct Patient Care 1 in 10 postings

More common in Dental Assistant postings

  • Dental Assistance 6 in 10 postings
  • Infection Control 4 in 10 postings
  • Chairside Assisting 2 in 10 postings
  • Intraoral Camera 1 in 10 postings
  • Patient Records 1 in 10 postings
  • Orthodontics 1 in 10 postings

Registered Nurse

Asked for in both

  • Direct Patient Care 1 in 10 postings

More common in RN postings

  • BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) 1 in 10 postings
  • Patient Education 1 in 10 postings
  • Nursing 1 in 10 postings

Out of each role's current postings.

Licenses and certifications

Dental Assistant

  • X-Ray Technician Certification 2 in 10 postings
  • CPR Certification 2 in 10 postings

Registered Nurse

  • RN License 5 in 10 postings
  • Registered Nurse 5 in 10 postings
  • Basic Life Support 3 in 10 postings
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) 2 in 10 postings
  • CPR Certification 1 in 10 postings

Open jobs

Dental Assistant

Registered Nurse

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