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Nurse technician vs health technician

The differences between nurse technicians and health technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a health technician has an average salary of $37,873, which is higher than the $33,005 average annual salary of a nurse technician.

The top three skills for a nurse technician include patients, CPR and vital signs. The most important skills for a health technician are patients, excellent interpersonal, and customer service.

Nurse technician vs health technician overview

Nurse TechnicianHealth Technician
Yearly salary$33,005$37,873
Hourly rate$15.87$18.21
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs195,553110,277
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4234
Years of experience3-

What does a nurse technician do?

Nurse technicians, also known as nursing aides, assistants, or attendants, usually work in clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. Primarily, they help a registered nurse by providing essential mobility, care, and support to patients. Everyday routine duties include maintaining patients' hygiene and moving them using wheelchairs or stretchers around the facility for their meals, treatment, events, and other activities. They do tasks that help improve a patient's comfort level and become their caregivers in the long run. This job requires a high school diploma along with the completed certified nursing assistant (CNA) program.

What does a health technician do?

A health technician is responsible for supporting medical operations in a health care facility by performing administrative and clerical duties, ensuring that the organization provides the highest quality care service to the patients. Health technicians process patients' information, manage their medical payments, monitor their conditions as instructed by physicians, maintain an organized medical chart, administer medication, and assist in conducting medical procedures. They also check the adequacy of stock inventories and write request reports, as well as inspecting the cleanliness of all the medical tools and equipment during operations.

Nurse technician vs health technician salary

Nurse technicians and health technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nurse TechnicianHealth Technician
Average salary$33,005$37,873
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $40,000Between $27,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateOregonMassachusetts
Best paying companyCarondelet High SchoolMeta
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between nurse technician and health technician education

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

Nurse TechnicianHealth Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college-Emory University

Nurse technician vs health technician demographics

Here are the differences between nurse technicians' and health technicians' demographics:

Nurse TechnicianHealth Technician
Average age4234
Gender ratioMale, 16.9% Female, 83.1%Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage7%15%

Differences between nurse technician and health technician duties and responsibilities

Nurse technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage memory unity within facility.
  • Deliver timely and quality patient care on rehabilitation unit under direct supervision of staff nurses.
  • Assist patients with ADL's: bathing, transferring, ambulating, changing bed linens, skin care, etc.
  • Assist and serve patients with activities of daily living (ADL) in a manner conductive to their safety and comfort.
  • Assist new surgical patients with appropriate equipment to meet rehabilitation needs, and offer mental encouragement for a more positive recovery.
  • Pick up patient for surgery.
  • Show more

Health technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain and manage medical and administrative records for all patients assign to clinic area to assure accurate care and patient confidentiality.
  • Supervise labs, diets, schedule radiology procedures, EKG's, respiratory, and medical tasks for patients.
  • Can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and/or initiate appropriate emergency alert notifications.
  • Administer ABA therapy for children with autism and provide support for other technicians when not with own clients.
  • Assist providers in direct physical examinations, minor procedures, emergency care to include CPR, and other clinical duties.
  • Assist children with autism spectrum disorders in learning life still and helping them transition successfully in all aspects of their lives.
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Nurse technician vs health technician skills

Common nurse technician skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%
Common health technician skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 8%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 6%
  • Veterans, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%

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