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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 | Nurse Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $75,363 | $79,040 |
| Hourly rate | $36.23 | $38.00 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 511,602 | 428,775 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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 nurses and nurse coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Practical Nurse | Nurse Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $75,363 | $79,040 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $120,000 | Between $61,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | University Hospitals | Tenet Healthcare |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a practical nurse and a nurse coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Practical Nurse | Nurse Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Emory University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between practical nurses' and nurse coordinators' demographics:
| Practical Nurse | Nurse Coordinator | |
| Average age | 46 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% | Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5% |
| Race ratio | Black 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 Percentage | 7% | 9% |