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Community health educator vs community health nurse

The differences between community health educators and community health nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a community health educator, becoming a community health nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a community health nurse has an average salary of $59,638, which is higher than the $43,889 average annual salary of a community health educator.

The top three skills for a community health educator include patients, public health and health promotion. The most important skills for a community health nurse are patients, community health, and home health.

Community health educator vs community health nurse overview

Community Health EducatorCommunity Health Nurse
Yearly salary$43,889$59,638
Hourly rate$21.10$28.67
Growth rate12%6%
Number of jobs66,731403,240
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4344
Years of experience42

What does a community health educator do?

A community health educator promotes health and wellness to a community through various health programs. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data to identify the community's needs, researching and planning activities, liaising with internal and external partners, developing health programs and activities, answering health inquiries, providing advice, and presenting educational materials to the community. They also serve as the link between healthcare services and specialists. Moreover, a community health educator must train and manage staff to provide optimal services to the community.

What does a community health nurse do?

The main role of a community health nurse is to provide care to patients. Community health nurses make a plan on educational assemblies, conduct health screenings, and hand-out fliers. These nurses administer immunizations and dispense medications. They distribute health-associated items such as pregnancy tests and condoms. Part of their job is to assist the elderly, pregnant women, disabled, or homeless by directing them to social service centers. Also, they may concentrate on offering community health nursing.

Community health educator vs community health nurse salary

Community health educators and community health nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Community Health EducatorCommunity Health Nurse
Average salary$43,889$59,638
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $59,000Between $41,000 And $85,000
Highest paying CityWest Hollywood, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyUniversity of Massachusetts BostonCottage Health
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between community health educator and community health nurse education

There are a few differences between a community health educator and a community health nurse in terms of educational background:

Community Health EducatorCommunity Health Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorHealth EducationNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaDuke University

Community health educator vs community health nurse demographics

Here are the differences between community health educators' and community health nurses' demographics:

Community Health EducatorCommunity Health Nurse
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 18.9% Female, 81.1%Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.2% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage21%9%

Differences between community health educator and community health nurse duties and responsibilities

Community health educator example responsibilities.

  • Engage with members' telephonically, using motivational interviewing techniques to assist members' in achieving their health goals.
  • Educate low-income populations as to proper nutrition on a budget in an effort to reduce diabetes and obesity rates.
  • Educate local community via verbal presentations on nutrition guidelines and neonatal screenings by creating PowerPoint presentations and visual aids.
  • Provide case management of enrollee participation to ensure completion of schedule mammograms and cervical testing.

Community health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Participate in manage care activities to produce health change, specifically providing diabetes education and lifestyle counseling in chronic disease areas.
  • Assist in GYN unit and in NICU.
  • Administer medications via PO, IM, SC.
  • Provide a caring & safe environment for neonatal, pediatric populations & couplet mother-baby care.
  • Record information and counsele patients regarding communicable diseases as required by law.
  • Communicate with MD and collaborate with disciplinary team to formulate comprehensive care plans for patients.
  • Show more

Community health educator vs community health nurse skills

Common community health educator skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Public Health, 9%
  • Health Promotion, 9%
  • Community Outreach, 6%
  • Disease Prevention, 6%
  • Community Health Education, 5%
Common community health nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Community Health, 13%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • Public Health, 5%
  • Quality Care, 4%
  • Mental Health, 3%

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