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Prn vs registered medical assistant

The differences between prns and registered medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-3 months to become an prn, becoming a registered medical assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, an prn has an average salary of $39,642, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a registered medical assistant.

The top three skills for an prn include patients, healthcare and occupational therapy. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.

Prn vs registered medical assistant overview

PRNRegistered Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$39,642$36,580
Hourly rate$19.06$17.59
Growth rate9%16%
Number of jobs72,309183,988
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 34%
Average age4237
Years of experience312

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 registered medical assistant do?

The primary job of registered medical assistants is to perform clinical and administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. They offer support services to physicians, so the latter have plenty of time to care for patients. They carry out varied administrative, clerical, and clinical tasks that include taking vital signs, filing records, and scheduling patient appointments. Other responsibilities include discussing treatment procedures to patients, interacting with patients, and collecting laboratory specimens such as tissue and blood. Ideal characteristics to become a registered medical assistant include being compassionate, can work well with people, and adaptable.

Prn vs registered medical assistant salary

Prns and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

PRNRegistered Medical Assistant
Average salary$39,642$36,580
Salary rangeBetween $17,000 And $89,000Between $26,000 And $49,000
Highest paying CityDavis, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companyErlanger Health SystemGriffin Hospital
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between prn and registered medical assistant education

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

PRNRegistered Medical Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 41%Associate Degree, 34%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Prn vs registered medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between prns' and registered medical assistants' demographics:

PRNRegistered Medical Assistant
Average age4237
Gender ratioMale, 21.0% Female, 79.0%Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8%
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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 8.7% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between prn and registered medical 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

Registered medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Generate referral letters for physician, manage and sort medical documents within the EHR system, and assist with e-prescribing.
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Attain medical histories, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, and assist during diagnostic examinations.
  • Front and back administrative duties, answering phones, scheduling appointments and compliance with HIPAA, CLIA, and OSHA regulations.
  • Conduct lab tests in the areas of hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and serology collections.
  • Run testing, calibration and controls of high complexity specialize in areas of chemistry and hematology.
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Prn vs registered medical assistant skills

Common prn skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Healthcare, 9%
  • Occupational Therapy, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • Customer Service, 4%
Common registered medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 18%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Office Procedures, 5%
  • EKG, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Exam Rooms, 4%

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