Post job

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research associate

The differences between clinical research nurses and clinical research associates 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 nurse and a clinical research associate. Additionally, a clinical research associate has an average salary of $62,966, which is higher than the $60,347 average annual salary of a clinical research nurse.

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

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research associate overview

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Associate
Yearly salary$60,347$62,966
Hourly rate$29.01$30.27
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs703,98394,336
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

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.

What does a clinical research associate do?

A clinical research associate is responsible for assisting medical professionals in clinical trials and conducting research studies on medications and medical procedures. Clinical research associates monitor the research materials, ensuring its safety and reliability through trial procedures, writing comprehensive reports of results, and disseminating information across the concerned parties. They also provide recommendations on improving clinical processes, reiterating protocol requirements, and maintaining strict confidentiality of the trial subjects. A clinical research associate must have extensive knowledge of the medical industry, including its disciplines and principles, to perform duties accurately under minimal supervision.

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research associate salary

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

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Associate
Average salary$60,347$62,966
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $82,000Between $43,000 And $91,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyMeta
Best paying industryEducationPharmaceutical

Differences between clinical research nurse and clinical research associate education

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

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorNursingBiology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research associate demographics

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

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Associate
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 10.9% Female, 89.1%Male, 28.3% Female, 71.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.7% Asian, 13.0% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

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

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 associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage, schedule and train up to 15 CRAs.
  • Recruit patients, attain patient inform consent form, educate subjects on compliance, and ensure patient safety per ICH guidelines.
  • Manage site TMF to ensure communication requirements adherence
  • Manage CRO and regional monitor to complete close out activities, including device accountability management.
  • Manage regional academic and community base oncology practices as the primary contact for all communications and support.
  • Manage the monitoring CRO and the data clean-up efforts for a 510k submission and interim/annual study reports by effectively collaborating cross-functionally.
  • Show more

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research associate skills

Common clinical research nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%
  • Quality Care, 3%
Common clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 9%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • CRA, 6%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Trial Management, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs