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Senior clinical research scientist vs research nurse

The differences between senior clinical research scientists 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 scientist and a research nurse. Additionally, a senior clinical research scientist has an average salary of $103,836, which is higher than the $53,463 average annual salary of a research nurse.

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

Senior clinical research scientist vs research nurse overview

Senior Clinical Research ScientistResearch Nurse
Yearly salary$103,836$53,463
Hourly rate$49.92$25.70
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs128,55546,665
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4444
Years of experience22

What does a senior clinical research scientist do?

A senior clinical research scientist has to identify various diseases among their patients and conduct clinical investigations. Once they identify a disease and its cause, they assist physicians in the treatment of patients. They also have to analyze clinical data and health tests. They should have the ability to develop new research methods.

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 scientist vs research nurse salary

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

Senior Clinical Research ScientistResearch Nurse
Average salary$103,836$53,463
Salary rangeBetween $67,000 And $159,000Between $38,000 And $74,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyAbiomedLaboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Best paying industryHealth CarePharmaceutical

Differences between senior clinical research scientist and research nurse education

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

Senior Clinical Research ScientistResearch Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBiologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborDuke University

Senior clinical research scientist vs research nurse demographics

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

Senior Clinical Research ScientistResearch Nurse
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 48.5% Female, 51.5%Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.5% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 13.3% White, 62.4% 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 scientist and research nurse duties and responsibilities

Senior clinical research scientist example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage planning, implementation, conduct and reporting of assign early phase international clinical studies in oncology.
  • Contribute to the development of templates for protocols and clinical study reports following FDA, GCP and ICH guidelines.
  • Authore and review abstracts, manuscripts, slide decks and posters in collaboration with internal and external (CRO) stakeholders.
  • Lead feasibility and identification of CRO selection for pediatric program.
  • Recruit investigators perform pre-study visits, negotiate budgets, initiate and monitor studies and verify data for accuracy and completeness.
  • Manage clinical monitors in successful completion of large international hypertension study.

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

Senior clinical research scientist vs research nurse skills

Common senior clinical research scientist skills
  • Clinical Operations, 8%
  • Informed Consent, 7%
  • Clinical Development, 7%
  • Clinical Trials, 6%
  • Clinical Data, 6%
  • Consent Forms, 5%
Common research nurse skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Informed Consent, 11%
  • Data Collection, 5%
  • IRB, 5%
  • Oncology, 4%
  • Research Projects, 4%

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