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Student nursing assistant vs unit assistant

The differences between student nursing assistants and unit assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-3 months to become a student nursing assistant, becoming a unit assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a student nursing assistant has an average salary of $35,704, which is higher than the $33,802 average annual salary of a unit assistant.

The top three skills for a student nursing assistant include patients, vital signs and direct supervision. The most important skills for a unit assistant are patients, customer service, and HIPAA.

Student nursing assistant vs unit assistant overview

Student Nursing AssistantUnit Assistant
Yearly salary$35,704$33,802
Hourly rate$17.17$16.25
Growth rate9%16%
Number of jobs206,225174,425
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4237
Years of experience312

Student nursing assistant vs unit assistant salary

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

Student Nursing AssistantUnit Assistant
Average salary$35,704$33,802
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $47,000Between $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 student nursing assistant and unit assistant education

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

Student Nursing AssistantUnit Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common college--

Student nursing assistant vs unit assistant demographics

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

Student Nursing AssistantUnit Assistant
Average age4237
Gender ratioMale, 15.0% Female, 85.0%Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 9.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between student nursing assistant and unit 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

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.
  • Show more

Student nursing assistant vs unit assistant skills

Common student nursing assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Vital Signs, 14%
  • Direct Supervision, 11%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Patient Safety, 6%
  • Blood Pressure, 3%
Common unit assistant skills
  • Patients, 37%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • HIPAA, 6%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • Medical Terminology, 5%
  • ADL, 4%

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