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Senior clinical research associate vs research nurse

The differences between senior clinical research associates 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 senior clinical research associate and a research nurse. Additionally, a senior clinical research associate has an average salary of $95,878, which is higher than the $53,463 average annual salary of a research nurse.

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

Senior clinical research associate vs research nurse overview

Senior Clinical Research AssociateResearch Nurse
Yearly salary$95,878$53,463
Hourly rate$46.10$25.70
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs94,04546,665
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a senior clinical research associate do?

A Senior Clinical Research Associate performs and coordinates all aspects of the clinical monitoring and site management process. They design, implement, and monitor clinical trials.

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.

Senior clinical research associate vs research nurse salary

Senior clinical research associates and research nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Clinical Research AssociateResearch Nurse
Average salary$95,878$53,463
Salary rangeBetween $64,000 And $142,000Between $38,000 And $74,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew York
Best paying companyAcorda TherapeuticsLaboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between senior clinical research associate and research nurse education

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

Senior Clinical Research AssociateResearch Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Senior clinical research associate vs research nurse demographics

Here are the differences between senior clinical research associates' and research nurses' demographics:

Senior Clinical Research AssociateResearch Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 28.2% Female, 71.8%Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 11.6% White, 62.8% 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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior clinical research associate and research nurse duties and responsibilities

Senior clinical research associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage a consultant to review scientific support and create dossiers on each product that make health claims in the EU.
  • Interact with FDA and other regulatory authorities to manage and facilitate approval of regulatory submissions.
  • Monitor U.S. sites in accordance with ICH and GCP guidelines.
  • Maintain investigators and subjects files, review investigators files for compliance with GCP and FDA regulations, review drug utilization records.
  • Verify informed consent procedures and protocol requirements base on applicable regulatory requirements to ensure protection of study patients.
  • Provide site management for both therapeutic and supportive care oncology protocols that are complex and require knowledge in advance therapeutic areas.
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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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Senior clinical research associate vs research nurse skills

Common senior clinical research associate skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Informed Consent, 6%
  • Oncology, 5%
  • CRA, 5%
  • Site Management, 5%
  • Field Training, 4%
Common research nurse skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Informed Consent, 11%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • IRB, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Research Projects, 4%

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