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The differences between psychiatric nursing assistants and medication aides can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a psychiatric nursing assistant and a medication aide. Additionally, a medication aide has an average salary of $40,799, which is higher than the $30,184 average annual salary of a psychiatric nursing assistant.
The top three skills for a psychiatric nursing assistant include patients, mental health and vital signs. The most important skills for a medication aide are compassion, resident care, and state regulations.
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Medication Aide | |
| Yearly salary | $30,184 | $40,799 |
| Hourly rate | $14.51 | $19.61 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 181,338 | 275,582 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 23% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 3 | 3 |
Psychiatric Nursing Assistants require the ability to carry out individual patient treatment programs, as well as verbalization of patients' needs, clear and concise communication of information, and ensuring patient safety and well-being. Paying out at around $26K per year, this position requires no formal education outside of a diploma or GED, but postsecondary courses in psychology may help. Those who choose this career will be called on to assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients under nursing or medical staff direction, assist patients with their daily living activities, lead them to and from examinations and treatment, and restrain patients who become violent.
A medication aide is a healthcare professional who is responsible for administering medication to patients daily in a hospital or medical facility. As certified nursing assistants, medication aides should possess knowledge of patient care procedures so that they can coordinate with different nurses to deliver them. They follow written or verbal instructions from physicians on how to manage their patients' medications. Medication aides are also required to observe their patients and document changes in their conditions.
Psychiatric nursing assistants and medication aides have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Medication Aide | |
| Average salary | $30,184 | $40,799 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $40,000 | Between $33,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Madison, WI |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a psychiatric nursing assistant and a medication aide in terms of educational background:
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Medication Aide | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | High School Diploma, 23% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between psychiatric nursing assistants' and medication aides' demographics:
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Medication Aide | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 15.7% Female, 84.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 16.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 7.3% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |