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Respiratory care assistant vs unit assistant

The differences between respiratory care assistants and unit assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a respiratory care assistant and a unit assistant. Additionally, a unit assistant has an average salary of $33,802, which is higher than the $33,491 average annual salary of a respiratory care assistant.

The top three skills for a respiratory care assistant include patients, CPR and RRT. The most important skills for a unit assistant are patients, customer service, and HIPAA.

Respiratory care assistant vs unit assistant overview

Respiratory Care AssistantUnit Assistant
Yearly salary$33,491$33,802
Hourly rate$16.10$16.25
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs134,726174,425
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

Respiratory care assistant vs unit assistant salary

Respiratory care assistants and unit assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Respiratory Care AssistantUnit Assistant
Average salary$33,491$33,802
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $48,000Between $25,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City-Westfield, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-UC Santa Barbara
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between respiratory care assistant and unit assistant education

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

Respiratory Care AssistantUnit Assistant
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorMedical TechnicianNursing
Most common college--

Respiratory care assistant vs unit assistant demographics

Here are the differences between respiratory care assistants' and unit assistants' demographics:

Respiratory Care AssistantUnit Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 30.6% Female, 69.4%Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 9.6% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 9.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between respiratory care assistant and unit assistant duties and responsibilities

Respiratory care assistant example responsibilities.

  • Experience using BIPAP, CPAP, MetaNeb, IPPB
  • Perform routine and stat EKG testing.
  • Administer breathing treatments to patients in the trauma center under the watch of a respiratory therapist.
  • Administer medications via nebulizer, as well as, participate in other forms of intermittent non-invasive patient care.
  • Maintain intubation equipment and ambulation bags.
  • Work with mechanical vents and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation ..
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Unit assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
  • Carry out necessary duties for post surgery patients which result in quicker test results and recovery time for patients.
  • Follow HIPAA laws and assist patients.
  • Qualify in 12 lead EKG's, and applying 6 lead telemetry monitors.
  • Report any personal or medical complaints and concerns of the patients to the supervising nursing and rehabilitation staff members.
  • Assist patients in activities of daily living, assist in rehabilitation of patients, doctors & nurses in ER department.
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Respiratory care assistant vs unit assistant skills

Common respiratory care assistant skills
  • Patients, 54%
  • CPR, 9%
  • RRT, 5%
  • EKG, 4%
  • Direct Patient Care, 4%
  • Resuscitation, 3%
Common unit assistant skills
  • Patients, 37%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Medical Terminology, 5%
  • ADL, 4%

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