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The differences between psychiatric nursing assistants 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 a psychiatric nursing assistant and a nurse technician. Additionally, a nurse technician has an average salary of $33,005, 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 nurse technician are patients, CPR, and vital signs.
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Nurse Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $30,184 | $33,005 |
| Hourly rate | $14.51 | $15.87 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 181,338 | 195,553 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| 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.
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.
Psychiatric nursing assistants and nurse technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Nurse Technician | |
| Average salary | $30,184 | $33,005 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | Carondelet High School |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a psychiatric nursing assistant and a nurse technician in terms of educational background:
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Nurse Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between psychiatric nursing assistants' and nurse technicians' demographics:
| Psychiatric Nursing Assistant | Nurse Technician | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 13.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |