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Discharge planner vs clinical research nurse

The differences between discharge planners 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 discharge planner and a clinical research nurse. Additionally, a clinical research nurse has an average salary of $60,347, which is higher than the $52,855 average annual salary of a discharge planner.

The top three skills for a discharge planner include patients, social work and home health. The most important skills for a clinical research nurse are patients, BLS, and acute care.

Discharge planner vs clinical research nurse overview

Discharge PlannerClinical Research Nurse
Yearly salary$52,855$60,347
Hourly rate$25.41$29.01
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs31,021703,983
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a discharge planner do?

In the health industry, a discharge planner is primarily responsible for assessing and meeting the patients' needs as they transition to their lives after being in the hospital. It is their duty to study the patients' medical history, provide discharge summaries to the patients' insurance providers, arrange services with external parties such as rehabilitation centers or therapists, and develop discharge plans that would guide the patients' on their journey to recovery. Moreover, they coordinate with medical experts and work with the patients' families to ensure the patient's welfare.

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.

Discharge planner vs clinical research nurse salary

Discharge planners and clinical research nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Discharge PlannerClinical Research Nurse
Average salary$52,855$60,347
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $82,000Between $44,000 And $82,000
Highest paying City-Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between discharge planner and clinical research nurse education

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

Discharge PlannerClinical Research Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorSocial WorkNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Discharge planner vs clinical research nurse demographics

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

Discharge PlannerClinical Research Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 13.6% Female, 86.4%Male, 10.9% Female, 89.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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 discharge planner and clinical research nurse duties and responsibilities

Discharge planner example responsibilities.

  • Manage full caseload of patients providing both supportive and educational counseling as well as utilization review and case management services.
  • Assist patients with completing Medicaid applications.
  • Coordinate and facilitate patient placement post discharge in clinical facilities, including SNF and rehabilitation programs.
  • Maintain verbal contact with family/petitioner, in compliance with HIPAA and JCAHO policy, with regards to consumer needs.
  • Facilitate transportation prior to approval from Medicaid including ambulance transfer.
  • Follow and adhere to facility policies and procedures implementing HIPAA requirements
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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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Discharge planner vs clinical research nurse skills

Common discharge planner skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Social Work, 18%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Social Services, 3%
Common clinical research nurse skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • BLS, 10%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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