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Prn vs certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant

The differences between prns and certified medical assistants/certified nurse assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both an prn and a certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant. Additionally, an prn has an average salary of $39,642, which is higher than the $36,382 average annual salary of a certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant.

The top three skills for an prn include patients, healthcare and occupational therapy. The most important skills for a certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Prn vs certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant overview

PRNCertified Medical Assistant/Certified Nurse Assistant
Yearly salary$39,642$36,382
Hourly rate$19.06$17.49
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs72,309350,499
Job satisfaction-3.5
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 26%
Average age4242
Years of experience33

What does an prn do?

A PRN or a "pro re nata" employee is responsible for covering a shift or a specific situation, especially during short-staffing or the need to complete a particular task. The PRNs often work for a medical industry without a regular or full-time commitment, having the freedom to manage their time and take multiple assignments from different organizations. A PRN must have excellent communication and organization skills, providing quality healthcare services to the patients and the organization.

What does a certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant do?

A certified medical assistant (CMA) or certified nurse assistant (CNA) is a healthcare professional who performs clinical and administrative duties in clinics or medical facilities. Certified medical assistants provide excellent customer service to patients arriving and departing from the medical facility and administer injections or medications to their patients. In administrative duties, certified medical assistants are tasked to help clients submit insurance claims and encode medical records to the computer system. They also can work with specialized physicians such as ophthalmologists and podiatrists.

Prn vs certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant salary

Prns and certified medical assistants/certified nurse assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

PRNCertified Medical Assistant/Certified Nurse Assistant
Average salary$39,642$36,382
Salary rangeBetween $17,000 And $89,000Between $27,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityDavis, CALos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateHawaiiHawaii
Best paying companyErlanger Health SystemAya Healthcare
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between prn and certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant education

There are a few differences between an prn and a certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant in terms of educational background:

PRNCertified Medical Assistant/Certified Nurse Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 26%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Prn vs certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant demographics

Here are the differences between prns' and certified medical assistants/certified nurse assistants' demographics:

PRNCertified Medical Assistant/Certified Nurse Assistant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 21.0% Female, 79.0%Male, 10.5% Female, 89.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between prn and certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant duties and responsibilities

Prn example responsibilities.

  • Develop discharge plans base on individual patients' medical and ADL needs to ensure safety and security issues are addressed.
  • Experience with ICU patients including ventilator and non-ventilator dependent patients.
  • Tend to the physical and emotional needs of patients recovering from critical injury or extensive orthopedic surgery.
  • Provide patient rehabilitation to primarily geriatric short/long term care patients of different diagnosis and document treatment sessions appropriately.
  • Provide PRN speech services including evaluation and treatments in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient settings with adult populations
  • Incorporate invasive monitoring and CPR skills as needed.
  • Show more

Certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Deliver care with patience, compassion, and caring for the elder1y patients.
  • Document vital information in electronic medical records (EMR) of assign patients.
  • Monitor patients in restraints for safety, circulation, hydration, nutrition and elimination.
  • Adhere to home health, hospice, and emergency protocols including performing CPR and first aide (as necessary).
  • Assist patients with mobility and personal hygiene and monitor patients on telemetry.
  • Show more

Prn vs certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant skills

Common prn skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Occupational Therapy, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
Common certified medical assistant/certified nurse assistant skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Rehabilitation, 3%
  • Quality Care, 3%

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