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Senior licensed practical nurse vs certified medical technician

The differences between senior licensed practical nurses and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a senior licensed practical nurse, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a senior licensed practical nurse has an average salary of $51,806, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a senior licensed practical nurse include resident care, medication administration and patients. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Senior licensed practical nurse vs certified medical technician overview

Senior Licensed Practical NurseCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$51,806$38,859
Hourly rate$24.91$18.68
Growth rate6%5%
Number of jobs263,650164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeDiploma, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4644
Years of experience212

What does a senior licensed practical nurse do?

As a senior licensed practical nurse, you have to develop plans of health care and medication and help in assisting all the paper records. When you are applying for this job, you need to make sure that you are responsible for managing the clinical and the staff members. You have to be extremely careful while assisting the doctors in an ICU. An associate degree is a certification required before going to an ICU. You also need to be skillful in handling medical equipment such as pipes and oxygen equipment and have documentation skills to complete the files to be sent to medicated programs, nursing homes, and other clinics.

What does a certified medical technician do?

Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.

Senior licensed practical nurse vs certified medical technician salary

Senior licensed practical nurses and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Licensed Practical NurseCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$51,806$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $72,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYDenton, TX
Highest paying stateRhode IslandAlaska
Best paying companyPeaceHealthFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between senior licensed practical nurse and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a senior licensed practical nurse and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

Senior Licensed Practical NurseCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeDiploma, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeEmory UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Senior licensed practical nurse vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between senior licensed practical nurses' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Senior Licensed Practical NurseCertified Medical Technician
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 11.1% Female, 88.9%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 7.2% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%8%

Differences between senior licensed practical nurse and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Senior licensed practical nurse example responsibilities.

  • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
  • Educate clients concerning ADL'S.
  • Conduct comprehensive minimum data set (MDS) assessments.
  • Assist in transitioning all paper records to the new EMR.
  • Coordinate with the MDS team the overall plan of care of the clients to maximize reimbursement.
  • Serve as LPN caring for residents in need of physical, and occupational rehabilitation after surgery or hospital stays.
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Certified medical technician example responsibilities.

  • Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
  • Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
  • Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
  • Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
  • Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
  • Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.
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Senior licensed practical nurse vs certified medical technician skills

Common senior licensed practical nurse skills
  • Resident Care, 22%
  • Medication Administration, 17%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Physician Orders, 11%
  • Quality Care, 7%
  • Home Health, 5%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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