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Medic vs nurse

The differences between medics and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $35,815 average annual salary of a medic.

The top three skills for a medic include patients, patient care and customer service. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.

Medic vs nurse overview

MedicNurse
Yearly salary$35,815$57,564
Hourly rate$17.22$27.68
Growth rate7%6%
Number of jobs17,384696,124
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age3644
Years of experience-2

What does a medic do?

A medic, or often called combat medic, is a healthcare professional responsible for providing continuous medical care to military personnel who are injured on the battlefield. In the absence of physicians, medics are typically co-located with the combat troops. This is so that military men's movement is convenient and administering emergency medical treatment to battlefield casualties is achievable. They provide combat lifesaver training courses to military personnel and manage medical supplies and equipment. To be a medic, candidates must take basic combat and advanced individual training, including patient care.

What does a nurse do?

Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.

Medic vs nurse salary

Medics and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.

MedicNurse
Average salary$35,815$57,564
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $66,000Between $38,000 And $86,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyRegeneronConviva
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between medic and nurse education

There are a few differences between a medic and a nurse in terms of educational background:

MedicNurse
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 31%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college-Duke University

Medic vs nurse demographics

Here are the differences between medics' and nurses' demographics:

MedicNurse
Average age3644
Gender ratioMale, 43.4% Female, 56.6%Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between medic and nurse duties and responsibilities

Medic example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Provide Foley catheter care to patients.
  • Provide instruction to EMT's and firefighters in emergency services training, basic fire prevention and protection methods.
  • Perform structural firefighting and rescue operations to eliminate or reduce fire hazards, protect people, property and the environment.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in establishing patient medical histories, taking accurate vital signs, venipuncture, injections, and various diagnostic procedures.
  • Monitor, perform, and interpret EKGs.
  • Show more

Nurse example responsibilities.

  • Monitor patients' status during surgery (circulate in operating room) and manage patients in PACU.
  • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
  • Monitor patients for cardiac rhythm changes and implement medication according to ACLS guidelines.
  • Educate patients and families on diseases processes, medications, wind care, and iv infusion.
  • Provide care for patients on medical/surgical, transplant, cardiac, orthopedic, postpartum, neonatal ICU, and psychiatric units
  • Demonstrate competence in CPR and other medical emergency situations.
  • Show more

Medic vs nurse skills

Common medic skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 4%
  • Data Entry, 3%
Common nurse skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • BLS, 6%
  • Acute Care, 5%
  • Acls, 4%

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