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Clinical research nurse vs clinical research coordinator

The differences between clinical research nurses and clinical research coordinators 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 coordinator. Additionally, a clinical research nurse has an average salary of $60,347, which is higher than the $52,459 average annual salary of a clinical research coordinator.

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

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research coordinator overview

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Coordinator
Yearly salary$60,347$52,459
Hourly rate$29.01$25.22
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs703,983102,960
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
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 coordinator do?

A clinical research coordinator is a healthcare professional responsible for administering clinical trials of drugs or medications. Clinical research coordinators work under the supervision of clinical research managers to collect data and help inform trial participants about the study's objectives. They must ensure that these trials have met all regulations, including drug safety, government regulations, and the organization's code of ethics. Clinical research coordinators must obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing and have at least two years of healthcare experience.

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research coordinator salary

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

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Coordinator
Average salary$60,347$52,459
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $82,000Between $37,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CitySacramento, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaWashington
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyGenentech
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between clinical research nurse and clinical research coordinator education

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

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Clinical research nurse vs clinical research coordinator demographics

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

Clinical Research NurseClinical Research Coordinator
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 10.9% Female, 89.1%Male, 20.0% Female, 80.0%
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, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between clinical research nurse and clinical research coordinator 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.
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Clinical research coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Assess study participants for adverse reactions or complications and manage side effects of chemotherapy and other study relate drugs.
  • Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
  • Direct acquisition and analysis of functional MRI research data following GCP and FDA regulations
  • Prepare and maintain IRB and regulatory documentation for various research projects and consent patients for clinical research.
  • Facilitate constant communication between principal investigators, oncology nurses, and patients to address concerns and maximize eligibility and enrollment.
  • Schedule patient for study procedures; initiate/coordinate drug orders, laboratory procedures and treatments for patients base on standing protocol orders.
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Clinical research nurse vs clinical research coordinator skills

Common clinical research nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%
  • Quality Care, 3%
Common clinical research coordinator skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 10%
  • IRB, 7%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • Research Projects, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%

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