Research coordinator vs research nurse

The differences between research coordinators and 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 research coordinator and a research nurse. Additionally, a research nurse has an average salary of $53,463, which is higher than the $48,974 average annual salary of a research coordinator.

The top three skills for a research coordinator include patients, informed consent and data collection. The most important skills for a research nurse are patients, informed consent, and data collection.

Research coordinator vs research nurse overview

	Research Coordinator	Research Nurse
Yearly salary	$48,974	$53,463
Hourly rate	$23.55	$25.70
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	65,406	46,665
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a research coordinator do?

A research coordinator is responsible for assisting the development of research data from clinical trials and laboratory investigations under the supervision of a lead researcher or a research supervisor. In some cases, research coordinators conduct field investigations and analyze existing research materials upon understanding the scope and limitations of the study. They enter their findings and useful resources on the research database for reference to the research team. A research coordinator must have excellent communication skills, both written and oral, especially on gathering data and coordinating with other researchers for the progress and updates of the study.

What does a research nurse do?

A research nurse specializes in conducting studies and scientific research for healthcare and medical development. They may work for medical facilities, private clinics, learning institutions, and government agencies. It is their duty to design research strategies and procedures, gather and analyze samples through various scientific methods, coordinate with other experts, and develop treatment and healthcare plans to optimize patient services and outcomes. Moreover, a research nurse typically works with a team of researchers, which requires an active communication line while adhering to the organization's policies and regulations.

Research coordinator vs research nurse salary

Research coordinators and research nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Research Coordinator	Research Nurse
Average salary	$48,974	$53,463
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $68,000	Between $38,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	Bothell, WA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	BNP Paribas	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Best paying industry	Health Care	Pharmaceutical

Differences between research coordinator and research nurse education

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

	Research Coordinator	Research Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Psychology	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Research coordinator vs research nurse demographics

Here are the differences between research coordinators' and research nurses' demographics:

	Research Coordinator	Research Nurse
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 29.1% Female, 70.9%	Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 10.2% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.4% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between research coordinator and research nurse duties and responsibilities

Research coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage participant's records ensuring confidentiality as well as NIH specifications.
Manage all IRB submissions, sponsor communications, participate in monitoring visits, drug reconciliation and dispensing.
Recruit, screen, conduct psychometric examinations and collect data for pharmaceutical clinical trials in patients diagnose with Alzheimer's disease.
Maintain confidential information and appropriate ethical professionalism with highly sensitive personal health information; take part in IRB human subjects training.
Assist in preparation of grants, NIH progress reports, presentations, and manuscripts.
Ensure and maintain confidentiality, privacy and compliance of patient rights in accordance with HIPAA regulations and NVCI policies.

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Research nurse example responsibilities.

Collect, manage and analyze preliminary data using SPSS statistical software.
Adhere to local and country specific GCP and ICH guidelines.
Ensure coordinator and investigator compliance with GCP and ICH guidelines.
Assure compliance with good clinical practice (GCP) guidelines and FDA regulations.
Ensure appropriate source documentation, drug accountability and study compliance according to GCP and CFR.
Oversee study protocol implementation to ensure compliance with FDA and other regulatory bodies' rules and regulations.

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Research coordinator vs research nurse skills

Common research coordinator skills

Patients, 11%
Informed Consent, 8%
Data Collection, 8%
IRB, 7%
Research Projects, 6%
Patient Care, 4%

Common research nurse skills

Patients, 18%
Informed Consent, 11%
Data Collection, 5%
IRB, 5%
Oncology, 4%
Research Projects, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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