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Community health navigator vs community health nurse

The differences between community health navigators 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 navigator, 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 $40,561 average annual salary of a community health navigator.

The top three skills for a community health navigator include patients, social work and mental health. The most important skills for a community health nurse are patients, community health, and home health.

Community health navigator vs community health nurse overview

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Health Nurse
Yearly salary$40,561$59,638
Hourly rate$19.50$28.67
Growth rate12%6%
Number of jobs61,439403,240
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4344
Years of experience42

What does a community health navigator do?

Community health navigators are health coordinators that connect people to medical providers and community resources. They help patients in enhancing their mental, physical, and social health as well as assist them in developing a definite care plan. Their duties include assisting in prescribing optimal health care to patients, coordinating patient care from care providers, and negotiating the health care system. Also, they connect patients to community resources such as food, clothing, affordable housing, and transportation.

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 navigator vs community health nurse salary

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

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Health Nurse
Average salary$40,561$59,638
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $55,000Between $41,000 And $85,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateNevadaNew York
Best paying companyPioneers Memorial Healthcare DistrictCottage Health
Best paying industryInsuranceGovernment

Differences between community health navigator and community health nurse education

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

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Health Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaDuke University

Community health navigator vs community health nurse demographics

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

Community Health NavigatorCommunity Health Nurse
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 19.7% Female, 80.3%Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 52.8% 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 navigator and community health nurse duties and responsibilities

Community health navigator example responsibilities.

  • Lead process and counseling groups gear toward healing from both PTSD and substance dependence issues.
  • Utilize EpicCare EMR software to access patients' medical chart as needed according to HIPAA regulations.
  • Exhibit sensitivity and compassion to patients diagnose with breast cancer.
  • Update EMR with most recent information.
  • Coordinate other agencies across the country that assist veterans.
  • Assist to design and implement center-wide mammography tracking process in EMR.
  • Show more

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 navigator vs community health nurse skills

Common community health navigator skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Community Health, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Care Coordination, 4%
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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