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Practical nurse vs nurse coordinator

The differences between practical nurses and nurse coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a practical nurse and a nurse coordinator. Additionally, a nurse coordinator has an average salary of $79,040, which is higher than the $75,363 average annual salary of a practical nurse.

The top three skills for a practical nurse include patients, APN and home health. The most important skills for a nurse coordinator are patients, CPR, and customer service.

Practical nurse vs nurse coordinator overview

Practical NurseNurse Coordinator
Yearly salary$75,363$79,040
Hourly rate$36.23$38.00
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs511,602428,775
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4644
Years of experience22

What does a practical nurse do?

A practical nurse is responsible for providing the highest quality care services for the patients and assisting them with their needs and concerns. Practical nurses work within a health institution or private household to support the patients in their daily activities, monitor their conditions, administer medication, and inform the doctors of their health updates. They also coordinate with other medical professionals to develop nursing care plans and activities to suit the patients' lifestyle and keep their active wellbeing.

What does a nurse coordinator do?

A nurse coordinator is primarily in charge of overseeing all nurses and their activities in a hospital or clinic. Their responsibilities include managing and rotating schedules, assessing nurse performance, organizing nursing programs, and developing strategies to optimize procedures. They may also assist patients and answer inquiries, studying their conditions to develop specific care plans to suit their needs. Furthermore, as a nurse coordinator, it is essential to lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while implementing the facility's policies and regulations.

Practical nurse vs nurse coordinator salary

Practical nurses and nurse coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Practical NurseNurse Coordinator
Average salary$75,363$79,040
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $120,000Between $61,000 And $102,000
Highest paying CityLancaster, CAPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity HospitalsTenet Healthcare
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between practical nurse and nurse coordinator education

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

Practical NurseNurse Coordinator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityDuke University

Practical nurse vs nurse coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between practical nurses' and nurse coordinators' demographics:

Practical NurseNurse Coordinator
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 14.3% Female, 85.7%Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 6.3% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between practical nurse and nurse coordinator duties and responsibilities

Practical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Treat patients with dignity, respect, and compassion while maintaining there safety.
  • Maintain safety and quality standards of care while facilitating early discharge of mother and baby.
  • Maintain HIPPA and OSHA guidelines.
  • Receive and implementing Dr orders.
  • Train in lactation and NRP certify.
  • Show more

Nurse coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Assume administrative oversight of medical, pediatric and chemical dependency rehabilitation units during leaves of absence or vacancy.
  • Communicate with patients regarding test results and plan after participating in review of diagnostic testing results with attending physician.
  • Organize and schedule patients for multiple testing procedures and responsible for extensive patient teaching regarding all aspects of fertility and infertility.
  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Contribute to the telemetry and radiology departments
  • Show more

Practical nurse vs nurse coordinator skills

Common practical nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • APN, 7%
  • Home Health, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Physical Examinations, 4%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
Common nurse coordinator skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • CPR, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Data Collection, 3%
  • Direct Patient Care, 3%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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