Post job

Clinical education specialist vs nurse educator

The differences between clinical education specialists and nurse educators 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 education specialist and a nurse educator. Additionally, a clinical education specialist has an average salary of $75,695, which is higher than the $67,983 average annual salary of a nurse educator.

The top three skills for a clinical education specialist include clinical education, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a nurse educator are patients, BLS, and BSN.

Clinical education specialist vs nurse educator overview

Clinical Education SpecialistNurse Educator
Yearly salary$75,695$67,983
Hourly rate$36.39$32.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs67,208537,803
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical education specialist do?

A clinical education specialist is an individual who designs and administers continuing education programs for healthcare personnel to help them improve the delivery of patient care. Clinical education specialists are required to assess healthcare facilities to determine what type of education is needed and then design courses that will provide personnel with proper training and education. They must apply creative and innovative strategies in problem-solving to achieve the desired goals of the facility. Clinical education specialists must also maintain productive working relationships through mentoring and positive communication.

What does a nurse educator do?

A nurse educator is responsible for teaching aspiring professional nurses, designing courses according to the curriculum, and organizing activities to practice and enhance the students' knowledge. Nurse educators manage clinical activities and observe the students' performance in actual training. They must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as its practices, to respond to the students' inquiries and concerns accurately. A nurse educator identifies the students' strengths and weaknesses, develop comprehensive lesson plans, and strategizing various nursing programs.

Clinical education specialist vs nurse educator salary

Clinical education specialists and nurse educators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Education SpecialistNurse Educator
Average salary$75,695$67,983
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $97,000Between $47,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CAJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateAlaskaRhode Island
Best paying companyEdwards LifesciencesGradyHealth
Best paying industryFinancePharmaceutical

Differences between clinical education specialist and nurse educator education

There are a few differences between a clinical education specialist and a nurse educator in terms of educational background:

Clinical Education SpecialistNurse Educator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Clinical education specialist vs nurse educator demographics

Here are the differences between clinical education specialists' and nurse educators' demographics:

Clinical Education SpecialistNurse Educator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 24.0% Female, 76.0%Male, 10.7% Female, 89.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical education specialist and nurse educator duties and responsibilities

Clinical education specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide case management with physicians recommendations and assistance navigating insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid and manage care.
  • Educate patients regarding the different type of pumps, infusion sets, and self-administration of medications.
  • Provide one-on-one supervision and crisis intervention-acting as an advocate and liaison for patients and their case managers.
  • Support guide wire and balloon dilatation catheter projects, requiring similar activities associate with development of stent delivery systems.
  • Act as liaison between radiology and other departments relate to medical imaging and procedures.
  • Serve as an active member on the system documentation committee redesigning the documentation system to include rehabilitation specific information.
  • Show more

Nurse educator example responsibilities.

  • Achieve instructor level for both BLS and ACLS, supporting needs of nursing staff to maintain competency.
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures, and managing emergencies.
  • Provide nursing education and clinical expertise to novice nurses entering ICU setting.
  • Assist with maintaining staff certification in ACLS and BLS, advocate keeping current with unit specific certifications.
  • Involve in program development for the cardiology and cardiovascular surgery departments.
  • Develop standardized patient care plans for medical diagnoses and oncology patients for use with the hospital computerize documentation system.
  • Show more

Clinical education specialist vs nurse educator skills

Common clinical education specialist skills
  • Clinical Education, 14%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • BLS, 5%
  • Patient Outcomes, 4%
Common nurse educator skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • BLS, 8%
  • BSN, 7%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Educational Programs, 5%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs