Clinical associate vs research nurse

The differences between clinical associates and research 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 clinical associate and a research nurse. Additionally, a clinical associate has an average salary of $91,027, which is higher than the $53,463 average annual salary of a research nurse.

The top three skills for a clinical associate include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a research nurse are patients, informed consent, and data collection.

Clinical associate vs research nurse overview

	Clinical Associate	Research Nurse
Yearly salary	$91,027	$53,463
Hourly rate	$43.76	$25.70
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	56,977	46,665
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a clinical associate do?

A clinical associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a medical facility by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to provide high-quality care services for the patients and assisting health care professionals in performing medical procedures. Clinical associates monitor the conditions of the patients, administer medication, collect laboratory samples, and conduct initial medical assessments such as checking temperature and vital signs. A clinical associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on addressing different patients' needs and reporting the patients' progress to the physicians.

What does a research nurse do?

A research nurse specializes in conducting studies and scientific research for healthcare and medical development. They may work for medical facilities, private clinics, learning institutions, and government agencies. It is their duty to design research strategies and procedures, gather and analyze samples through various scientific methods, coordinate with other experts, and develop treatment and healthcare plans to optimize patient services and outcomes. Moreover, a research nurse typically works with a team of researchers, which requires an active communication line while adhering to the organization's policies and regulations.

Clinical associate vs research nurse salary

Clinical associates and research nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Clinical Associate	Research Nurse
Average salary	$91,027	$53,463
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $208,000	Between $38,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	Baltimore, MD	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	University of Iowa Center for Advancement	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Best paying industry	-	Pharmaceutical

Differences between clinical associate and research nurse education

There are a few differences between a clinical associate and a research nurse in terms of educational background:

	Clinical Associate	Research Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Clinical associate vs research nurse demographics

Here are the differences between clinical associates' and research nurses' demographics:

	Clinical Associate	Research Nurse
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0%	Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between clinical associate and research nurse duties and responsibilities

Clinical associate example responsibilities.

Perform EKG's, placement of cardiac leads and telemetry unit (critical care only).
Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
Assist nurses and doctors with procedures, EKG monitoring, clinical duties, clerical duties.
Assist with project plan management, FDA submission paperwork, and tracking of contingency plans / appropriate triggers.
Experience with communication with professional staff regarding pertinent observations concerning conditions of patients.
Participate in disease diagnosis and treatment in the department of internal medicine and pediatrics

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Research nurse example responsibilities.

Collect, manage and analyze preliminary data using SPSS statistical software.
Adhere to local and country specific GCP and ICH guidelines.
Ensure coordinator and investigator compliance with GCP and ICH guidelines.
Assure compliance with good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines and FDA regulations.
Ensure appropriate source documentation, drug accountability and study compliance according to GCP and CFR.
Oversee study protocol implementation to ensure compliance with FDA and other regulatory bodies' rules and regulations.

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Clinical associate vs research nurse skills

Common clinical associate skills

Patients, 30%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Home Health, 6%
Vital Signs, 5%
CPR, 4%
Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

Common research nurse skills

Patients, 18%
Informed Consent, 11%
Data Collection, 5%
IRB, 5%
Oncology, 4%
Research Projects, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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