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Research nurse vs clinical project manager

The differences between research nurses and clinical project managers 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 nurse and a clinical project manager. Additionally, a clinical project manager has an average salary of $100,510, which is higher than the $53,463 average annual salary of a research nurse.

The top three skills for a research nurse include patients, informed consent and data collection. The most important skills for a clinical project manager are manage cross, patients, and clinical research.

Research nurse vs clinical project manager overview

Research NurseClinical Project Manager
Yearly salary$53,463$100,510
Hourly rate$25.70$48.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs46,665153,837
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

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.

What does a clinical project manager do?

A clinical project manager specializes in developing and organizing clinical trials. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and coordinating with all necessary personnel and experts, scheduling meetings, and preparing necessary documentation, ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations. Moreover, a clinical project manager must devise strategies and train all staff, develop protocols and guidelines, coordinate with vendors and suppliers, evaluate staff and verify documentation, and assist in all activities to ensure that every process aligns with the project's agenda. Should there be any issues or concerns, a clinical project manager must conduct corrective measures right away.

Research nurse vs clinical project manager salary

Research nurses and clinical project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Research NurseClinical Project Manager
Average salary$53,463$100,510
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $74,000Between $74,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSouth San Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyLaboratory Corporation of America HoldingsIntuitive Surgical
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between research nurse and clinical project manager education

There are a few differences between a research nurse and a clinical project manager in terms of educational background:

Research NurseClinical Project Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Research nurse vs clinical project manager demographics

Here are the differences between research nurses' and clinical project managers' demographics:

Research NurseClinical Project Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.2% Female, 90.8%Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 10.8% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between research nurse and clinical project manager duties and responsibilities

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.
  • Show more

Clinical project manager example responsibilities.

  • Develop, manage, motivate and ensure professional development of project staff (13 CRAs).
  • Manage domestic and international oncology clinical study sites.
  • Manage multiple pharmaceutical studies ensuring compliance with FDA guidelines.
  • Manage the operational aspects and execution of clinical studies focusing on oncology.
  • Supervise rotating team of CRA's contract with the CRO, educating on therapeutic area, and ensuring ICH GCP compliance.
  • Ensure GCP / ICH regulatory compliance on studies, preventing study deviations and provide swift resolutions to possible violations.
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Research nurse vs clinical project manager skills

Common research nurse skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Informed Consent, 11%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • IRB, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Research Projects, 4%
Common clinical project manager skills
  • Manage Cross, 12%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Clinical Research, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 5%
  • Oversight, 5%

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