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Clinical education specialist vs registered nurse

The differences between clinical education specialists 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 a clinical education specialist and a registered nurse. Additionally, a clinical education specialist has an average salary of $75,695, which is higher than the $73,349 average annual salary of a registered nurse.

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

Clinical education specialist vs registered nurse overview

Clinical Education SpecialistRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$75,695$73,349
Hourly rate$36.39$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs67,208646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Associate 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 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.

Clinical education specialist vs registered nurse salary

Clinical education specialists and registered nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical Education SpecialistRegistered Nurse
Average salary$75,695$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $97,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyEdwards LifesciencesNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryFinanceHealth Care

Differences between clinical education specialist and registered nurse education

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

Clinical Education SpecialistRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Clinical education specialist vs registered nurse demographics

Here are the differences between clinical education specialists' and registered nurses' demographics:

Clinical Education SpecialistRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 24.0% Female, 76.0%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
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, 11.3% 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 clinical education specialist and registered nurse 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.
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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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Clinical education specialist vs registered nurse skills

Common clinical education specialist skills
  • Clinical Education, 14%
  • Patients, 10%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Professional Development, 6%
  • BLS, 5%
  • Patient Outcomes, 4%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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