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Prn vs nurse technician

The differences between prns and nurse technicians 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 nurse technician. Additionally, an prn has an average salary of $39,642, which is higher than the $33,005 average annual salary of a nurse technician.

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

Prn vs nurse technician overview

PRNNurse Technician
Yearly salary$39,642$33,005
Hourly rate$19.06$15.87
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs72,309195,553
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
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 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.

Prn vs nurse technician salary

Prns and nurse technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

PRNNurse Technician
Average salary$39,642$33,005
Salary rangeBetween $17,000 And $89,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityDavis, CASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateHawaiiOregon
Best paying companyErlanger Health SystemCarondelet High School
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between prn and nurse technician education

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

PRNNurse Technician
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Prn vs nurse technician demographics

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

PRNNurse Technician
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 21.0% Female, 79.0%Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1%
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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between prn and nurse technician 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

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

Prn vs nurse technician skills

Common prn skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Occupational Therapy, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
Common nurse technician skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Home Health, 5%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%

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