Post job

Health care coordinator vs nurse

The differences between health care coordinators and 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 health care coordinator and a nurse. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $43,411 average annual salary of a health care coordinator.

The top three skills for a health care coordinator include patients, social work and home health. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

Health care coordinator vs nurse overview

Health Care CoordinatorNurse
Yearly salary$43,411$57,564
Hourly rate$20.87$27.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs146,649696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a health care coordinator do?

As the health care coordinator, they are mostly assigned at the front desk to assist you through your appointment, help you fill out medical forms, answers your questions, and reach out to your insurance provider to determine payment options. They help patients to feel confident in the process and get organized. They also consult and work with other health care providers to book appointments and note treatment plans. Moreover, they do complex tasks, including facilitating, ensuring treatment plans are successfully done, and help the care team with recommended care.

What does a nurse do?

Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.

Health care coordinator vs nurse salary

Health care coordinators and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Care CoordinatorNurse
Average salary$43,411$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $57,000Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyHealth AllianceConviva
Best paying industryInsuranceGovernment

Differences between health care coordinator and nurse education

There are a few differences between a health care coordinator and a nurse in terms of educational background:

Health Care CoordinatorNurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke University

Health care coordinator vs nurse demographics

Here are the differences between health care coordinators' and nurses' demographics:

Health Care CoordinatorNurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 16.0% Female, 84.0%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 9.0% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between health care coordinator and nurse duties and responsibilities

Health care coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage client accounts making sure they are up to date and within Medicare guidelines.
  • Manage caseload by providing care coordination to individuals with a primary intellectual/developmental disability diagnosis all of whom receive community-base waiver services.
  • Expand use of Medicare and Medicaid benefits for services not previously utilize including researching and contracting with outside vendors.
  • Establish patient referral sources from business relationships and educate facility staff to identify patients that would benefit from home health services.
  • Utilize CPR certification skills when need.
  • Help assist residents with ADL's.
  • Show more

Nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
  • Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
  • Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
  • Provide care for patients on medical/surgical, transplant, cardiac, orthopedic, postpartum, neonatal ICU, and psychiatric units
  • Demonstrate competence in CPR and other medical emergency situations.
  • Show more

Health care coordinator vs nurse skills

Common health care coordinator skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Home Health, 11%
  • Mental Health, 6%
  • Behavioral Health, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs