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Clinical educator vs registered nurse

The differences between clinical educators 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 educator and a registered nurse. Additionally, a registered nurse has an average salary of $73,349, which is higher than the $65,929 average annual salary of a clinical educator.

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

Clinical educator vs registered nurse overview

Clinical EducatorRegistered Nurse
Yearly salary$65,929$73,349
Hourly rate$31.70$35.26
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs60,065646,159
Job satisfaction-2.75
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 46%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical educator do?

A clinical educator is primarily responsible for devising training programs for nurses and other health workers. They mostly coordinate with different departments and conduct skills assessments to determine areas that need improvement, develop various methods to make operations more manageable, and even organize certification programs. A clinical educator may also treat and handle patients, manage schedules, produce progress reports, and maintain an extensive record of all documentation. Moreover, as a clinical educator, it is essential to implement the medical facility's policies and regulations.

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 educator vs registered nurse salary

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

Clinical EducatorRegistered Nurse
Average salary$65,929$73,349
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $96,000Between $45,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityNorwich, CTSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyBoehringer IngelheimNORCAL Ambulance
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between clinical educator and registered nurse education

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

Clinical EducatorRegistered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Associate Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Clinical educator vs registered nurse demographics

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

Clinical EducatorRegistered Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 19.4% Female, 80.6%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.3% 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 educator and registered nurse duties and responsibilities

Clinical educator example responsibilities.

  • Develop and manage customer training materials and deliver in-service and technical training programs for new and existing customers.
  • Provide case management with physicians recommendations and assistance navigating insurance such as Medicare, Medicaid and manage care.
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures and managing emergencies
  • Provide education within the community for cardiac health, CPR and ACLS.
  • Provide ACLS and BLS classes for staff, physicians, and community groups.
  • Design and present annual mandatory competencies, OSHA, and CPR classes to current professional staff.
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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 educator vs registered nurse skills

Common clinical educator skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 10%
  • BLS, 7%
  • Educational Programs, 5%
  • Professional Development, 5%
Common registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • BLS, 10%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Home Health, 4%

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