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Pediatric nurse vs certified medical technician

The differences between pediatric 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 pediatric nurse, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a pediatric nurse has an average salary of $72,945, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a pediatric nurse include patients, home health and BLS. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Pediatric nurse vs certified medical technician overview

Pediatric NurseCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$72,945$38,859
Hourly rate$35.07$18.68
Growth rate6%5%
Number of jobs614,706164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4444
Years of experience212

What does a pediatric nurse do?

A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who offers medical and health care for children in hospitals and clinics. Pediatric nurses educate caregivers and parents on the effective methods of child health protection. They take care of children's health from birth to adolescence. They are experts in child care while they are working with their respective families to address their problems, fears, concerns, and other options. The necessary skills for this job include child development knowledge and communication skills.

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.

Pediatric nurse vs certified medical technician salary

Pediatric nurses and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pediatric NurseCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$72,945$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $117,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CADenton, TX
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between pediatric nurse and certified medical technician education

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

Pediatric NurseCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Pediatric nurse vs certified medical technician demographics

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

Pediatric NurseCertified Medical Technician
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 7.7% Female, 92.3%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 66.0% 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 pediatric nurse and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Pediatric nurse example responsibilities.

  • Provide continuous telemetry monitoring and managing multiple patients with multiple high-risk medical conditions, utilizing interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Coordinate care for acute and chronic pediatric oncology patients with an emphasis on family centered care and patient education.
  • Certify in ACLS and BLS.
  • Provide excellent patient care to children, showing compassion and nurturing while in office.
  • Function as a staff nurse in a twelve bed ICU caring for patients with various illnesses.
  • Show more

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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Pediatric nurse vs certified medical technician skills

Common pediatric nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Home Health, 14%
  • BLS, 12%
  • Acute Care, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Acls, 3%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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