What does a clinical technician do?
A clinical technician is responsible for operating and maintaining clinical equipment, ensuring the proper sterilization of all laboratory tools and kits to avoid contamination during medical procedures. Clinical technicians assist the patients with their medical inquiries and needs, collecting samples for laboratory, and helping medical professionals on surgeries and other medical operations. They also maintain medical charts, update patients' information on the database, and administer patients' medication. A clinical technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry, as well as strictly following internal guidelines and safety procedures during operations.
Clinical technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real clinical technician resumes:
- Prepare QC and QA samples for validity testing.
- Resolve issues from level 1 EMR support as well as EMR issues transfer from other departments.
- Recognize life threatening situations and activate the emergency response system while assisting with CPR and code cart.
- Report and document description of patient care information in EMR in accordance with hospital policy and procedure.
- Participate in reviews and QC of external central laboratory contracts, sample kits and manuals and ensure accuracy.
- Assist in advance and basic life support techniques, perform EKG's, blood withdrawal, and computer order entry.
- Perform blood capillary glucose testing, perform EKG when need, collect specimens, measure and record intake and output.
- Complete training in team building, nursing station switchboard operation, management of disruptive patient behaviors and CPR program administration.
- Develop and streamline processes that are used by the CSA in daily situations that improve efficiency, understanding and productivity.
- Collaborate with the CRO teams, vendors, and QA to resolve oversight of provision of study supplies to clinical sites.
- Protect confidential resident information according to HIPPA guidelines to promote resident safety and welfare.
- Establish strong reputation with patients for providing efficient and effective treatment in a fast-pace environment.
- Perform laboratory and clinical procedures including phlebotomy, finger stick glucose, and urine dipsticks.
- Refine skills for feline phlebotomy, restraint, and administration of oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous medications.
- Receive and assign stats and time orders to ensure production standards.
Clinical technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Clinical Technicians are proficient in Patients, Vital Signs, and Phlebotomy. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observational skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Clinical Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 27%
Completed verification of Benefits and Eligibility for all referrals from patients, Medical Doctors Office's, health-plans and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
- Vital Signs, 8%
Documented patient care performed, including vital signs, laboratory specimens obtained, and any observations necessary.
- Phlebotomy, 7%
Refined skills for feline phlebotomy, restraint, and administration of oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous medications.
- Direct Patient Care, 7%
Assisted in direct patient care, provided environmental support and facilitated patient safety.
- Customer Service, 6%
Provided excellent customer service to improve patient care experience while monitoring changes throughout post-op medical treatment and recovery.
- EKG, 4%
Performed wound care, EKG, IV insertion, lab draws, and other clinical duties essential for health care intervention.
Most clinical technicians use their skills in "patients," "vital signs," and "phlebotomy" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential clinical technician responsibilities here:
Observational skills. One of the key soft skills for a clinical technician to have is observational skills. You can see how this relates to what clinical technicians do because "psychiatric technicians and aides must watch patients closely and be sensitive to changes in behavior." Additionally, a clinical technician resume shows how clinical technicians use observational skills: "monitor vital signs, intake/output and report observational changes to nurse perform finger stick and glucose levels check direct patient care"
Patience. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling clinical technician duties is patience. The role rewards competence in this skill because "working with people who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions may be challenging." According to a clinical technician resume, here's how clinical technicians can utilize patience in their job responsibilities: "schedule rn's and lpn's for taking care of hiv & non-hiv patience. "
Physical stamina. clinical technicians are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to clinical technician responsibilities, because "psychiatric technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients." A clinical technician resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "monitored patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff. "
The three companies that hire the most clinical technicians are:
- RWJBarnabas Health248 clinical technicians jobs
- Johns Hopkins Medicine85 clinical technicians jobs
- UNC Health Care70 clinical technicians jobs
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Compare different clinical technicians
Clinical technician vs. Assistant laboratory technician
The primary responsibility of a lab assistant is to help scientists and technologists. Lab assistants are assigned to prepare and monitor tests and experiments in research or medical laboratory. They analyze data and establish reports based on test results. Also, they set up the tools and equipment used in the lab. It is also part of their job to clean the lab rooms--knowledge in lab management, communication skills, attention to detail, and medical-related management.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between clinical technicians and assistant laboratory technician. For instance, clinical technician responsibilities require skills such as "phlebotomy," "direct patient care," "customer service," and "patient rooms." Whereas a assistant laboratory technician is skilled in "ladders," "computer lab," "nondestructive testing," and "blood products." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that assistant laboratory technicians earn slightly differ from clinical technicians. In particular, assistant laboratory technicians are 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a clinical technician. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Clinical technician vs. Licensed veterinary technician
A licensed veterinary technician serves as the assistant of the veterinarian who is responsible for doing clinical work inside a clinic or a veterinary hospital. They monitor and observe the current health situation of an animal and also give them first aid when needed. They are also tasked to collect specimens and conduct different laboratory tests, then give it to the veterinarian to determine the pet's health condition. Vet techs can also perform vaccination or prepare sick animals for tests or surgery.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real clinical technician resumes. While clinical technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "direct patient care," "customer service," "ekg," and "patient rooms," licensed veterinary technicians use skills like "pet," "anesthesia," "patient care," and "venipuncture."
On average, licensed veterinary technicians earn a higher salary than clinical technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, licensed veterinary technicians earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $41,755. Whereas clinical technicians have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $40,404.licensed veterinary technicians earn similar levels of education than clinical technicians in general. They're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for clinical technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Gerald Bergtrom Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences (Emeritus) & Teaching & Learning Consultant, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
-Medical science will need to respond to new challenges arising out of climate change and the aging population. Supported (as always) by basic sciences, medical science will focus on big-picture biology, represented by the ever-growing number of "...omics". These include genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics... and the enabling technologies that let us look at a lot of genes, gene products, and biochemical reactions at the same time. Finally, the ever-improving gene-editing technologies can lead to the treatment of disease, leading to a greater understanding of the disease and biological process in general.
Clinical technician vs. Emergency room technician
An Emergency Room Technician works in emergency departments dealing with patients who suffer from medical emergencies. They also assist with transporting patients into and out of the department for different medical tests.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a clinical technician is likely to be skilled in "vital signs," "ekg," "direct supervision," and "mouth care," while a typical emergency room technician is skilled in "emt," "bls," "emergency room," and "perform ekg."
When it comes to education, emergency room technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to clinical technicians. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Clinical technician vs. Phlebotomy technician
A phlebotomy technician is responsible for conducting the medical procedure of drawing blood samples using extraction tools and other equipment. Phlebotomy technicians label the samples for laboratory examinations, donation testing, and other related purposes. They also inspect and maintain the cleanliness of medical equipment, including sterilization of needles and other tools, to avoid contamination that would affect the accuracy of the results. A phlebotomy technician records fluid tests and procedures for reference and patient examination history.
Types of clinical technician
Updated January 8, 2025
