Emergency department registered nurse vs certified medical technician

The differences between emergency department registered nurses and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an emergency department registered nurse, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an emergency department registered nurse has an average salary of $81,260, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for an emergency department registered nurse include patients, acls and acute care. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Emergency department registered nurse vs certified medical technician overview

	Emergency Department Registered Nurse	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$81,260	$38,859
Hourly rate	$39.07	$18.68
Growth rate	6%	5%
Number of jobs	661,518	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	2	12

What does an emergency department registered nurse do?

An emergency registered nurse is first in line for patients who need a response. These nurses are first to respond to emergency cases such as trauma, allergic reactions, and injuries. They assist doctors and other medical staff in emergency medical care. It is their responsibility to always provide high-quality standards for nursing. The skills they should possess include diligence, attention to detail, levelheadedness, and strong communication. They also need to be knowledgeable about emergency care.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Emergency department registered nurse vs certified medical technician salary

Emergency department registered nurses and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Emergency Department Registered Nurse	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$81,260	$38,859
Salary range	Between $48,000 And $135,000	Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Denton, TX
Highest paying state	Hawaii	Alaska
Best paying company	Whidbey General Hospital	Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between emergency department registered nurse and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between an emergency department registered nurse and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

	Emergency Department Registered Nurse	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Nursing	Nursing
Most common college	Duke University	University of Connecticut

Emergency department registered nurse vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between emergency department registered nurses' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Emergency Department Registered Nurse	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	9%	8%

Differences between emergency department registered nurse and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Emergency department registered nurse example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage chest tubes and various drainage devices along with pacer wires, epidural lines, and PCA pumps.
Stabilize critical patients through the use of BLS and ACLS protocols.
Assess patients and prioritize care: stabilize multiple critical patients using ACLS and BLS protocols.
Provide direct patient care including triage evaluation and treatment of patients presenting for care for medical/trauma/psychiatric care.
Perform triage, assessments, complete MD orders assist in treatment and admit or discharge patients requiring/receiving emergency care
Provide comprehensive care to patients that addressed the physical, social, spiritual and mental aspects of care and rehabilitation.

Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.

Emergency department registered nurse vs certified medical technician skills

Common emergency department registered nurse skills

Patients, 27%
Acls, 9%
Acute Care, 6%
Life Support, 4%
Patient Outcomes, 4%
Advanced Life Support, 3%

Common certified medical technician skills

Patients, 17%
Vital Signs, 12%
CPR, 8%
Administer Medications, 7%
Resident Care, 6%
HIPAA, 6%

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Emergency Department Registered Nurse
Emergency Department Registered Nurse vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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