Study coordinator vs research nurse

The differences between study 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 study coordinator and a research nurse. Additionally, a research nurse has an average salary of $53,463, which is higher than the $47,435 average annual salary of a study coordinator.

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

Study coordinator vs research nurse overview

	Study Coordinator	Research Nurse
Yearly salary	$47,435	$53,463
Hourly rate	$22.81	$25.70
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	14,929	46,665
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	2

What does a study coordinator do?

Study coordinators oversee the entire process of clinical research from its inception to its completion. The coordinators make certain that human subjects are safe and well-protected. They identify the eligibility of the subject through clinical record screening and medical information extracting. It is their responsibility to maintain the regulatory documents based on the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They should develop skills and knowledge in clinical trials, study protocol, and patient care.

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.

Study coordinator vs research nurse salary

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

	Study Coordinator	Research Nurse
Average salary	$47,435	$53,463
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $65,000	Between $38,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	Oakland, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	Bloodworks Northwest	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings
Best paying industry	Health Care	Pharmaceutical

Differences between study coordinator and research nurse education

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

	Study Coordinator	Research Nurse
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	Duke University

Study coordinator vs research nurse demographics

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

	Study Coordinator	Research Nurse
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3%	Male, 9.2% Female, 90.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 64.8% 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 Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between study coordinator and research nurse duties and responsibilities

Study coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage and analyze EKG and sleep data collect from subjects in confidential database.
Establish and maintain strong community partnerships to achieve HIV prevention objectives.
Conduct consent discussions and other study procedures per protocol and CFR and GCP guidelines.
Maintain strict patient confidentiality according to HIPPA regulations, GCP and ICH , 21 CFR and other regulatory documentation.
Maintain accurate IRB, regulatory and study documentation to insure compliance with protocol and good clinical practice guidelines.
Coordinate day-to-day study activities including data collection and statistical analysis, protocol development/implementation, IRB relations, and staff development.

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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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Study coordinator vs research nurse skills

Common study coordinator skills

Patients, 14%
Informed Consent, 9%
IRB, 7%
Data Collection, 5%
FDA, 5%
Clinical Trials, 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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