Medical records administrator vs nurse manager

The differences between medical records administrators and nurse managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a medical records administrator and a nurse manager. Additionally, a nurse manager has an average salary of $83,684, which is higher than the $80,519 average annual salary of a medical records administrator.

The top three skills for a medical records administrator include patients, medical terminology and HIPAA. The most important skills for a nurse manager are patients, home health, and CPR.

Medical records administrator vs nurse manager overview

	Medical Records Administrator	Nurse Manager
Yearly salary	$80,519	$83,684
Hourly rate	$38.71	$40.23
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	103,325	380,264
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a medical records administrator do?

Medical records administrators oversee written and electronic medical records and reports. The duties of a medical records administrator are to maintain patient records, collect admission reports, liaise with other medical staff, compile documentation from different medical records, respond to enquiries and records requests from patients and physicians, and create a database for patient records. They are also tasked with ensuring the records comply with all policies protecting patient privacy and confidentiality.

What does a nurse manager do?

The primary role of nurse managers is to supervise the nursing staff in a clinical or hospital setting. They are the ones who are in charge of patient care, setting work schedules, and making budgetary and management decisions. They are also responsible for making personnel decisions, coordinating meetings, and creating safe environments that promote patient engagement and aid the healthcare team's work. Their role is vital in promoting a culture in which team members contribute to professional growth and patient outcomes.

Medical records administrator vs nurse manager salary

Medical records administrators and nurse managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Records Administrator	Nurse Manager
Average salary	$80,519	$83,684
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $108,000	Between $60,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Las Vegas, NV
Highest paying state	Delaware	Nevada
Best paying company	Long Island, FQHC, Inc	BD
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between medical records administrator and nurse manager education

There are a few differences between a medical records administrator and a nurse manager in terms of educational background:

	Medical Records Administrator	Nurse Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 39%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Business	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Medical records administrator vs nurse manager demographics

Here are the differences between medical records administrators' and nurse managers' demographics:

	Medical Records Administrator	Nurse Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 21.2% Female, 78.8%	Male, 13.5% Female, 86.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between medical records administrator and nurse manager duties and responsibilities

Medical records administrator example responsibilities.

Manage medical records in accordance with federal and state HIPAA guidelines, maintaining confidentiality of patient information.
Bill Medicaid and pertinent insurance companies for payment on services.
Respond swiftly to provider questions and ensure claims are processed through MMIS system properly to meet Medicaid eligibility.
Demonstrate knowledge of HIPAA privacy and security regulations by appropriately handling patient information.
Ensure evacuated patients are moved to the appropriate medical treatment facility or warrior transition units.
Interact with patients and associate medical professionals in order to supply and forward correct documentation for clinical visits.

Nurse manager example responsibilities.

Case manage workers compensation cases, administer drug testing, surveillance testing, minor 1st aid and CPR instruction.
Assess and manage various allergic and life threatening reactions of chemotherapy medications.
Manage staff of medical personnel providing care for telemetry, geriatric and general medicine patients.
Involve in utilization review and chart audits for all appropriate documentation for medicaid, Medicare and manage care organizations.
Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
Maintain current ACLS and BLS certifications.

Medical records administrator vs nurse manager skills

Common medical records administrator skills

Patients, 28%
Medical Terminology, 12%
HIPAA, 7%
Patient Care, 7%
Patient Charts, 7%
Transcription, 4%

Common nurse manager skills

Patients, 22%
Home Health, 8%
CPR, 4%
Customer Service, 4%
Performance Improvement, 3%
Surgery, 3%

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Medical Records Administrator
Medical Records Administrator vs Nurse Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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