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Nurses' aide vs medical assistant/phlebotomist

The differences between nurses' aides and medical assistant/phlebotomists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-3 months to become a nurses' aide, becoming a medical assistant/phlebotomist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a medical assistant/phlebotomist has an average salary of $33,674, which is higher than the $30,496 average annual salary of a nurses' aide.

The top three skills for a nurses' aide include patients, vital signs and electrocardiogram. The most important skills for a medical assistant/phlebotomist are patients, vital signs, and customer service.

Nurses' aide vs medical assistant/phlebotomist overview

Nurses' AideMedical Assistant/Phlebotomist
Yearly salary$30,496$33,674
Hourly rate$14.66$16.19
Growth rate9%16%
Number of jobs157,723189,206
Job satisfaction4.5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 30%Associate Degree, 23%
Average age4237
Years of experience312

What does a nurses' aide do?

A nurses' aide is responsible for providing healthcare and welfare assistance to patients in long-term care facilities while under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed colleague with extensive expertise. A nurses' aide is mostly involved in basic hygienic tasks, such as helping a patient in bathing and dressing, using the toilet, preparing meals, feeding, and performing basic chores. It is also vital for a nurses' aide to coordinate with supervisors, reporting any changes in a patients' condition or behavior.

What does a medical assistant/phlebotomist do?

Medical assistants/phlebotomists are medical personnel who execute administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities or units. They are responsible for providing healthcare to patients such as immunization administration, orthopedic supplies, and wound care. It is part of their job to take the blood of patients for blood testing. They also take charge of handling other medical tests for the upkeep of patients' health. These professionals should exhibit compatibility, initiative, and cohesiveness within the team.

Nurses' aide vs medical assistant/phlebotomist salary

Nurses' aides and medical assistant/phlebotomists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nurses' AideMedical Assistant/Phlebotomist
Average salary$30,496$33,674
Salary rangeBetween $23,000 And $39,000Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CityUrban Honolulu, HIBoston, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyConviva
Best paying industryHealth CareFinance

Differences between nurses' aide and medical assistant/phlebotomist education

There are a few differences between a nurses' aide and a medical assistant/phlebotomist in terms of educational background:

Nurses' AideMedical Assistant/Phlebotomist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 30%Associate Degree, 23%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Nurses' aide vs medical assistant/phlebotomist demographics

Here are the differences between nurses' aides' and medical assistant/phlebotomists' demographics:

Nurses' AideMedical Assistant/Phlebotomist
Average age4237
Gender ratioMale, 13.2% Female, 86.8%Male, 11.4% Female, 88.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 7.6% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 8.6% White, 51.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between nurses' aide and medical assistant/phlebotomist duties and responsibilities

Nurses' aide example responsibilities.

  • Manage and schedule restorative nursing programs for patients to encourage further rehabilitation or maintenance of physical function.
  • Maintain current CPR and hospital policies, work with patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics on a daily basis.
  • Perform ADL's (activities of daily living) and direct care services to assign patients to ensure schedule appointments are met
  • Assist with patient transfer, ambulation, catheter care, vital signs, answering call lights, feeding, and shower.
  • Lead RCA that overlook on residents and supervise staff.
  • Perform housekeeping to maintain cleanliness of the facility or patient's residence.
  • Show more

Medical assistant/phlebotomist example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Provide back-office support, inventory control, training and supervision to ensure compliance with HIPAA and OSHA regulations.
  • Used CPR training on several occasions.
  • Assist physician in the operating room during surgery and delivery.
  • Validate and ensure that forms for the releases of information are current, accurate and complete as defined by HIPAA.
  • Sanitize equipment and follow OSHA guidelines.
  • Show more

Nurses' aide vs medical assistant/phlebotomist skills

Common nurses' aide skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • Electrocardiogram, 8%
  • Compassion, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Medical Equipment, 4%
Common medical assistant/phlebotomist skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Blood Pressure, 6%
  • Office Procedures, 4%
  • Venipuncture, 4%

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