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Nursing home social worker vs certified medical technician

The differences between nursing home social workers 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 nursing home social worker, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a nursing home social worker has an average salary of $51,130, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a nursing home social worker include social work, nursing home and care plan. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Nursing home social worker vs certified medical technician overview

Nursing Home Social WorkerCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$51,130$38,859
Hourly rate$24.58$18.68
Growth rate9%5%
Number of jobs121,833164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4544
Years of experience212

What does a nursing home social worker do?

A Nursing Home Social Worker works closely with the residents of a nursing home to identify their various needs and develop adequate assistance strategies. Their responsibilities include: treating the emotional, behavioral conditions and problems, assessing new clients to come up with a treatment plan that addresses determined needs, offer adjustment support for those that lack family support, facilitating group activities that encourage interaction with other residents, and conducting administrative tasks that are crucial to the day to day operations of a nursing facility.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Nursing home social worker vs certified medical technician salary

Nursing home social workers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Nursing Home Social WorkerCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$51,130$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $66,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City-Denton, TX
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Favorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between nursing home social worker and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a nursing home social worker and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

Nursing Home Social WorkerCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorSocial WorkNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Connecticut

Nursing home social worker vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between nursing home social workers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Nursing Home Social WorkerCertified Medical Technician
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 16.9% Female, 83.1%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 19.9% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 3.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage13%8%

Differences between nursing home social worker and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Nursing home social worker example responsibilities.

  • Assist resident and families with Medicaid applications, as well as, assist with Medicare.
  • Assist residents with Medicaid applications and coordinate related appointments.
  • Counsele veterans and Medi-Cal clients individually to provide behavioral interventions in order to address their anxiety, depression and anger.
  • Conduct unannounce alternating monthly visits with CNH and monthly visits with RCH.

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.
  • Show more

Nursing home social worker vs certified medical technician skills

Common nursing home social worker skills
  • Social Work, 50%
  • Nursing Home, 27%
  • Care Plan, 8%
  • MDS, 7%
  • Discharge Planning, 3%
  • Home Health, 2%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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