Certified nursing attendant vs patient care technician

The differences between certified nursing attendants and patient care technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified nursing attendant has an average salary of $37,333, which is higher than the $32,806 average annual salary of a patient care technician.

The top three skills for a certified nursing attendant include patients, vital signs and CPR. The most important skills for a patient care technician are patients, vital signs, and phlebotomy.

Certified nursing attendant vs patient care technician overview

	Certified Nursing Attendant	Patient Care Technician
Yearly salary	$37,333	$32,806
Hourly rate	$17.95	$15.77
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	121,907	167,520
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Average age	42	34
Years of experience	3	-

Certified nursing attendant vs patient care technician salary

Certified nursing attendants and patient care technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Certified Nursing Attendant	Patient Care Technician
Average salary	$37,333	$32,806
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $62,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	-	Rochester, NH
Highest paying state	-	Vermont
Best paying company	-	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between certified nursing attendant and patient care technician education

There are a few differences between a certified nursing attendant and a patient care technician in terms of educational background:

	Certified Nursing Attendant	Patient Care Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 34%	Bachelor's Degree, 27%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	-	Emory University

Certified nursing attendant vs patient care technician demographics

Here are the differences between certified nursing attendants' and patient care technicians' demographics:

	Certified Nursing Attendant	Patient Care Technician
Average age	42	34
Gender ratio	Male, 16.4% Female, 83.6%	Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	7%	15%

Differences between certified nursing attendant and patient care technician duties and responsibilities

Certified nursing attendant example responsibilities.

Do ADL sheets and assist RN's and LPN's when need.
Develop and update syllabus for each assign course.
Obtain vitals, monitor ADL'S be aware of patient condition and orientation.
Turn and change beds, install and empty catheter bags and feed residents.
Contribute individualized care with feeding patients.
Operate Mechanical/Manual Hoyer lift for patients.

Patient care technician example responsibilities.

Manage care and prepare medical records, transcription and supply orders.
Manage daily care of high acuity patients with neurological trauma/disorders and post-surgery.
Qualify to perform patient care responsibilities on catheter patients.
Transport patients using wheelchairs and stretchers and assist patients to ambulate safely.
Assist with transferring patients in and out of wheelchairs, recliners, and stretchers.
Apply protective restraints safely and appropriately, assist in the admission, discharge and transfer of patients as needed.

Certified nursing attendant vs patient care technician skills

Common certified nursing attendant skills

Patients, 74%
Vital Signs, 6%
CPR, 4%
Patient Care, 4%
Emotional Support, 3%
Home Health, 2%

Common patient care technician skills

Patients, 24%
Vital Signs, 9%
Phlebotomy, 7%
CPR, 6%
Direct Patient Care, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Healthcare Support Industry
Certified Nursing Attendant
Certified Nursing Attendant vs Patient Care Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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