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Medical surgical staff nurse vs certified medical technician

The differences between medical surgical staff 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 a medical surgical staff nurse, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical surgical staff nurse has an average salary of $67,649, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a medical surgical staff nurse include patients, CPR and acute care. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Medical surgical staff nurse vs certified medical technician overview

Medical Surgical Staff NurseCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$67,649$38,859
Hourly rate$32.52$18.68
Growth rate6%5%
Number of jobs720,628164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4444
Years of experience212

Medical surgical staff nurse vs certified medical technician salary

Medical surgical staff nurses and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Surgical Staff NurseCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$67,649$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $115,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CADenton, TX
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between medical surgical staff nurse and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a medical surgical staff nurse and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

Medical Surgical Staff NurseCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Medical surgical staff nurse vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical surgical staff nurses' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Medical Surgical Staff NurseCertified Medical Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 9.6% Female, 90.4%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% 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 Percentage9%8%

Differences between medical surgical staff nurse and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Medical surgical staff nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Provide comprehensive nursing care to a variety of in-patient medical, surgical and telemetry patients.
  • Coordinate and provide direct patient care for cardiac/telemetry, surgical, orthopedic, respiratory, geriatric and pain management patients.
  • Obtain CPR certification for the first time.
  • Assist with patients that have acute active GI bleeding.
  • Administer rapid response and cardiac arrest care as a part of resuscitation team.
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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.
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Medical surgical staff nurse vs certified medical technician skills

Common medical surgical staff nurse skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Acute Care, 7%
  • Acls, 5%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Telemetry, 4%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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