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Ward assistant vs patient care assistant

The differences between ward assistants and patient care 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 ward assistant and a patient care assistant. Additionally, a ward assistant has an average salary of $47,580, which is higher than the $32,799 average annual salary of a patient care assistant.

The top three skills for a ward assistant include patients, vital signs and IV. The most important skills for a patient care assistant are patients, vital signs, and PCA.

Ward assistant vs patient care assistant overview

Ward AssistantPatient Care Assistant
Yearly salary$47,580$32,799
Hourly rate$22.88$15.77
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs89,892261,345
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%High School Diploma, 26%
Average age4242
Years of experience33

Ward assistant vs patient care assistant salary

Ward assistants and patient care assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Ward AssistantPatient Care Assistant
Average salary$47,580$32,799
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $71,000Between $23,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City-San Diego, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Microsoft
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between ward assistant and patient care assistant education

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

Ward AssistantPatient Care Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%High School Diploma, 26%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesNursing
Most common college--

Ward assistant vs patient care assistant demographics

Here are the differences between ward assistants' and patient care assistants' demographics:

Ward AssistantPatient Care Assistant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 28.4% Female, 71.6%Male, 14.4% Female, 85.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.2% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.3% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between ward assistant and patient care assistant duties and responsibilities

Ward assistant example responsibilities.

  • Transport patients in a large VA hospital, to and from their various medical and clinic appointments.
  • Read and score request for proposals (RFP) for city wide programming resulting in the distribution of critical grants.
  • Maintain an organize and healthy environment for patients under high-stress and fast-pace conditions.
  • Monitor animals' recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
  • Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation in emergency situations.
  • Direct & answer visitors' questions.

Patient care assistant example responsibilities.

  • Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
  • Assist patients in achieving independence and increase functional ability.
  • Manage ventilator settings, suction tracheostomy, tube-feeding assistance.
  • Answer call lights, vital signs, EKG'S, transporting patients to other areas, keep rooms clean and orderly.
  • Provide high quality patient care as an in-demand per-diem RCA within, home-healthcare, nursing home settings and memory support care.
  • Work extensively with Alzheimer and dementia patients.
  • Show more

Ward assistant vs patient care assistant skills

Common ward assistant skills
  • Patients, 78%
  • Vital Signs, 7%
  • IV, 6%
  • Patient Rooms, 5%
  • CNAs, 4%
Common patient care assistant skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Vital Signs, 9%
  • PCA, 8%
  • CPR, 7%
  • Home Health, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%

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