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Resident care assistant vs resident

The differences between resident care assistants and residents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-3 months to become a resident care assistant, becoming a resident takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a resident has an average salary of $60,589, which is higher than the $30,930 average annual salary of a resident care assistant.

The top three skills for a resident care assistant include resident care, customer service and patients. The most important skills for a resident are home health, patients, and rehabilitation.

Resident care assistant vs resident overview

Resident Care AssistantResident
Yearly salary$30,930$60,589
Hourly rate$14.87$29.13
Growth rate9%12%
Number of jobs199,89214,186
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4243
Years of experience312

What does a resident care assistant do?

Resident care assistants work with a group to care for residents with Alzheimer's disease, administer treatments, and chart their conditions. They manage intermediate care patients with EKG monitoring and epidural infusions. They assist residents with various forms of dementia to live while providing for their well-being. The assistants may also facilitate activities and games to engage residents with dementia. They assist residents in the dementia care unit with including dressing, showers, and bed baths. This position may require traits like integrity, compassion, and physical stamina.

What does a resident do?

A resident, often known as a resident physician, is a medical doctor who just graduated from medical school and pursued the residency program for further training. Residents work with health care team members to provide direct medical care by diagnosing medical problems and devising appropriate treatment plans. Depending on their medical specialty and training, residents may assist in performing surgeries to patients but are supervised by senior residents and physicians. Residents must also have an in-depth understanding of ethical, socioeconomic, and medical-legal issues surrounding patient care.

Resident care assistant vs resident salary

Resident care assistants and residents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Resident Care AssistantResident
Average salary$30,930$60,589
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $39,000Between $44,000 And $83,000
Highest paying CityChelsea, MAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonNorth Dakota
Best paying companyBrigham and Women's HospitalMeta
Best paying industryGovernmentNon Profits

Differences between resident care assistant and resident education

There are a few differences between a resident care assistant and a resident in terms of educational background:

Resident Care AssistantResident
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 28%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingMedicine
Most common college-University of Virginia

Resident care assistant vs resident demographics

Here are the differences between resident care assistants' and residents' demographics:

Resident Care AssistantResident
Average age4243
Gender ratioMale, 12.4% Female, 87.6%Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 6.6% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 15.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 7.1% White, 51.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%
LGBT Percentage7%11%

Differences between resident care assistant and resident duties and responsibilities

Resident care assistant example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Perform patient care, to include ADL's and assistance with ambulation and activities in an Alzheimer's unit.
  • Provide care and assistance with ADL's to the residents of the memory care and rehab units.
  • Work with a team to care for 48 residents with Alzheimer's disease, chart conditions, administer treatments
  • Assist client with: elastic support hose, condom catheter, indwelling catheter, emptying collection bag, hygiene.
  • Maintain distribution and tracking of telemetry packs for entire hospital.
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Resident example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatrics emergencies, indoor & outdoor patients, neonatal & intensive care units.
  • Document daily reports, administer medication, experience with first aid, CPR, and strategies for crisis intervention.
  • Perform full mouth surgical dental rehabilitation for mentally and physically disable patients (children and adults) under general anesthesia.
  • Work up surgical patient for surgery, under supervision.
  • Assist in LINAC and TPS commissioning with LandauerMP commissioning team.
  • Involve in commissioning of new skin HDR program using Valencia applicators.
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Resident care assistant vs resident skills

Common resident care assistant skills
  • Resident Care, 18%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • Compassion, 6%
  • Assist Residents, 5%
Common resident skills
  • Home Health, 20%
  • Patients, 15%
  • Rehabilitation, 13%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Residency Program, 3%

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