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Ambulatory care coordinator vs registered nurse

The differences between ambulatory care coordinators and registered nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an ambulatory care coordinator and a registered nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse has an average salary of $73,349, which is higher than the $40,458 average annual salary of an ambulatory care coordinator.

The top three skills for an ambulatory care coordinator include patients, social work and patient care. The most important skills for a registered nurse are patients, BLS, and CPR.

Ambulatory care coordinator vs registered nurse overview

Ambulatory Care CoordinatorRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$40,458$73,349
Hourly rate$19.45$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs85,837646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does an ambulatory care coordinator do?

An ambulatory care coordinator coordinates with physicians to ensure that the patients' individual medical needs are identified and addressed on time. Ambulatory care coordinators work directly under the supervision of an assigned ambulatory manager and supervisor to promote patients' health and welfare through face-to-face, telephone, or email. They maintain knowledge and expertise in electronic software tools so that medical records can be encoded into the computer. Ambulatory care coordinators are also required to take the licensure exams for registered nurses.

What does a registered nurse do?

The primary responsibilities of a registered nurse involve caring for a variety of patients, from ill and injured to those who are healthy and wanting to stay that way. Nurses have different specialization and work with particular patients, such as newborn babies or those who are suffering from particular medical conditions. They work on different settings which includes hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation center, nursing home, dialysis center, home healthcare agency, and other offices. They can administer medications, wound care, and other aids or treatment plan. They also conduct medical tests, interpret the results, and monitor patients' recovery and progress.

Ambulatory care coordinator vs registered nurse salary

Ambulatory care coordinators and registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Ambulatory Care CoordinatorRegistered Nurse
Average salary$40,458$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $52,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityProvidence, RISan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyCook Children's Medical CenterNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between ambulatory care coordinator and registered nurse education

There are a few differences between an ambulatory care coordinator and a registered nurse in terms of educational background:

Ambulatory Care CoordinatorRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke University

Ambulatory care coordinator vs registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between ambulatory care coordinators' and registered nurses' demographics:

Ambulatory Care CoordinatorRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 18.0% Female, 82.0%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between ambulatory care coordinator and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Ambulatory care coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage caseload by providing care coordination to individuals with a primary intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis all of whom receive community-base waiver services.
  • Initiate supportive counseling and crisis intervention for groups and individuals in children's rehabilitation hospital setting.
  • Conduct NCQA audits and quality surveys for physicians.
  • Assist with increasing family unity, life skills and legal entities.
  • Assist members with finding placement in the ALF or SNF setting.
  • Generate appropriate letters of authorization and denial according to NCQA and CMS guidelines.
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Registered nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient care for individuals with multiple diagnoses including COPD, diabetes, stroke and cardiac issues.
  • Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide care for cardiac patients in arrhythmia critical care unit, providing patient education and monitoring telemetry
  • Re-Cover surgical patients immediately after heart and vascular surgery until transfer out of ICU.
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Ambulatory care coordinator vs registered nurse skills

Common ambulatory care coordinator skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Home Health, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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