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Student nursing assistant vs certified nursing assistant

The differences between student nursing assistants and certified nursing assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-3 months to become both a student nursing assistant and a certified nursing assistant. Additionally, a student nursing assistant has an average salary of $35,704, which is higher than the $32,597 average annual salary of a certified nursing assistant.

The top three skills for a student nursing assistant include patients, vital signs and direct supervision. The most important skills for a certified nursing assistant are patients, vital signs, and home health.

Student nursing assistant vs certified nursing assistant overview

Student Nursing AssistantCertified Nursing Assistant
Yearly salary$35,704$32,597
Hourly rate$17.17$15.67
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs206,225225,834
Job satisfaction-3.12
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%High School Diploma, 29%
Average age4242
Years of experience33

Student nursing assistant vs certified nursing assistant salary

Student nursing assistants and certified nursing assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student Nursing AssistantCertified Nursing Assistant
Average salary$35,704$32,597
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $47,000Between $24,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City-Portland, ME
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between student nursing assistant and certified nursing assistant education

There are a few differences between a student nursing assistant and a certified nursing assistant in terms of educational background:

Student Nursing AssistantCertified Nursing Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%High School Diploma, 29%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Student nursing assistant vs certified nursing assistant demographics

Here are the differences between student nursing assistants' and certified nursing assistants' demographics:

Student Nursing AssistantCertified Nursing Assistant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 15.0% Female, 85.0%Male, 12.3% Female, 87.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.8% White, 62.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between student nursing assistant and certified nursing assistant duties and responsibilities

Student nursing assistant example responsibilities.

  • Insert straight catheters and manage Foley catheters.
  • Manage memory unity within facility.
  • Provide high-quality patient care within surgical, acute-care, rehabilitation and nursing-home settings.
  • Work with patients in a chemical dependent rehabilitation program and assess psychiatric patients in a therapeutic milieu floor.
  • Provide high-quality resident care and assist with ADL.
  • Obtain experience in performing 12 lead EKG tests.
  • Show more

Certified nursing assistant example responsibilities.

  • Achieve lead CMA role when a nurse are not available.
  • Manage patient charts as relates to activity of daily living through EMR system.
  • Manage memory unity within facility.
  • Care for patients with blood born pathogens such as but not limit to HIV/AIDS.
  • Work per LNA practice guidelines in all aspects of care at facility: assist living; skil nursing and rehabilitation
  • Assist the patients with their various mobility devices such as their walkers, wheelchairs, canes and lifters if need.
  • Show more

Student nursing assistant vs certified nursing assistant skills

Common student nursing assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 14%
  • Direct Supervision, 11%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Patient Safety, 6%
  • Blood Pressure, 3%
Common certified nursing assistant skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • Home Health, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Quality Care, 4%

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