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Clinical research assistant vs clinical research nurse

The differences between clinical research assistants and clinical 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 research assistant and a clinical research nurse. Additionally, a clinical research nurse has an average salary of $60,347, which is higher than the $39,837 average annual salary of a clinical research assistant.

The top three skills for a clinical research assistant include patients, informed consent and data collection. The most important skills for a clinical research nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Clinical research assistant vs clinical research nurse overview

Clinical Research AssistantClinical Research Nurse
Yearly salary$39,837$60,347
Hourly rate$19.15$29.01
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs97,380703,983
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a clinical research assistant do?

Clinical research assistants are responsible for assisting with scientific studies and monitoring clinical trials. Other duties and responsibilities include ensuring compliance with clinical trial procedures and protocols, finding research subjects, and collecting and analyzing data. In addition, they are responsible for overseeing clinical site activities and preparing documentation, presentation, and correspondence on findings. They are also expected to prepare informed consent for clinical trials and conduct audits on research trials. The skills and qualifications required for this role include a bachelor's degree in psychology, science or related field, previous work experience, and excellent communication skills.

What does a clinical research nurse do?

A clinical research nurse is responsible for conducting research studies on various health conditions, illness treatments, and healthcare methodologies, analyzing existing scientific research to make new reports. Clinical research nurses also communicate with other health professionals and health organizations for their insights and recommendations for a specific medical study, ensuring to report their findings to doctors and medical researchers for further validation and clinical trials. A clinical research nurse must have excellent knowledge of communication, both written and spoken, as well as expertise in the medical industry.

Clinical research assistant vs clinical research nurse salary

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

Clinical Research AssistantClinical Research Nurse
Average salary$39,837$60,347
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $54,000Between $44,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityFarmington, CTSacramento, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companySt. Jude Children's Research HospitalUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between clinical research assistant and clinical research nurse education

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

Clinical Research AssistantClinical Research Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Clinical research assistant vs clinical research nurse demographics

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

Clinical Research AssistantClinical Research Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 26.8% Female, 73.2%Male, 10.9% Female, 89.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 12.9% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 9.7% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical research assistant and clinical research nurse duties and responsibilities

Clinical research assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient caseload with emphasis in occupational rehabilitation
  • Maintain compliance with ICH, GCP and federal regulations as well as reporting adverse events to the FDA.
  • Perform medical assessment procedures including phlebotomy, laboratory processing, vital signs, and electrocardiogram.
  • Skil in CPR and patient distress.
  • Transport patients, and restive beds from ICU and IMCU units
  • Specialize training such as, CPI non-violent crisis intervention and CPR.
  • Show more

Clinical research nurse example responsibilities.

  • Maintain accountability and compassion while providing care, administering medications, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures and managing emergencies
  • Command of CPR team until a doctor arrives; defibrillate and assess patients' condition.
  • Administer pain medication through intravenous, oral or subcutaneous injection to recovering patients in the immediate post-operative period of surgery.
  • Provide complete nursing care for patient populations undergoing procedures relate to abdominal surgery, multiple trauma, oncology, and peritoneal dialysis
  • Provide skil nursing care for patients spanning the pediatric medical spectrum including hematology, immunology, oncology, neurology and endocrinology.
  • Show more

Clinical research assistant vs clinical research nurse skills

Common clinical research assistant skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Informed Consent, 8%
  • Data Collection, 7%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • IRB, 6%
  • Patient Care, 4%
Common clinical research nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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