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Emergency medical technician vs emergency department registered nurse

The differences between emergency medical technicians and emergency department registered nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an emergency department registered nurse has an average salary of $81,260, which is higher than the $39,743 average annual salary of an emergency medical technician.

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

Emergency medical technician vs emergency department registered nurse overview

Emergency Medical TechnicianEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Yearly salary$39,743$81,260
Hourly rate$19.11$39.07
Growth rate7%6%
Number of jobs137,617661,518
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age3644
Years of experience-2

What does an emergency medical technician do?

Emergency medical technicians or EMTs are skilled medical professionals who act as first responders to injured or sick patients. They apply first aid or do emergency medical procedures upon arriving at the area where the emergency happened. For serious or grave injuries, they do not have complete medical equipment at their disposal, so they have limited capacities on the field. Despite that, EMTs do their best to ensure that patients would reach the hospital for such high-risk cases. EMTs are expected to be calm under pressure and have extensive knowledge of first aid and of basic medical procedures.

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.

Emergency medical technician vs emergency department registered nurse salary

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

Emergency Medical TechnicianEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Average salary$39,743$81,260
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $59,000Between $48,000 And $135,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJLos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyHawaii
Best paying companyLewistown HospitalWhidbey General Hospital
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between emergency medical technician and emergency department registered nurse education

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

Emergency Medical TechnicianEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common college-Duke University

Emergency medical technician vs emergency department registered nurse demographics

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

Emergency Medical TechnicianEmergency Department Registered Nurse
Average age3644
Gender ratioMale, 60.9% Female, 39.1%Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 4.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%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%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

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

Emergency medical technician example responsibilities.

  • Provide medical emergency response, non-emergency transport services, event medical services, manage transportation services and paramedic and EMT training.
  • Demonstrate manual dexterity, with ability to perform all tasks relate to quality patient care.
  • Coordinate emergency transport of patients while providing treatment and triage in a variety of emergency situations.
  • File reports for patients, restock ambulance and supplies at base, have ACLS training, injection.
  • Handled/administered all types of ACLS medications to pediatric, adult and geriatric patients on a daily basis.
  • Assist nurse/physician with procedure such as suturing, lumbar puncture, catherization, casting/reduction, and application of restraints.
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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.
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Emergency medical technician vs emergency department registered nurse skills

Common emergency medical technician skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • CPR, 11%
  • EMS, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Life Support, 5%
  • EMT-B, 3%
Common emergency department registered nurse skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Acls, 9%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • Life Support, 4%
  • Patient Outcomes, 4%
  • Advanced Life Support, 3%

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