How Much Does a Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant Make?

Ever wonder how much Medical assistants and nurse assistants make? We’ve got the scoop on salaries for these two popular health care professions.

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Job descriptions: medical assistant vs Nurse Assistant

Medical assistants and nurse assistants are both vital members of the medical field. They work closely with patients, doctors, and nurses to provide top-notch patient care. Though their job descriptions may seem similar, there are some key differences between these two positions.

Medical assistants are primarily responsible for providing administrative support to doctors and nurses. They may also perform some clinical tasks, such as taking patient vital signs. Nurse assistants, on the other hand, are primarily responsible for providing direct patient care. This includes tasks such as bathing and feeding patients, helping them move around, and providing emotional support.

Both medical assistants and nurse assistants must be certified in order to work in most states. Certification for medical assistants typically requires the completion of an accredited program and passing a national exam. Certification for nurse assistants typically requires the completion of an accredited program and passing a state-level exam.

Salaries for medical assistants and nurse assistants can vary depending on experience, location, and employer. In general, medical assistants tend to earn slightly more than nurse assistants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants is $33,610, while the median annual salary for nurse aides is $28,540.

Salary: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for medical assistants in 2017 was $32,480 per year, or $15.59 per hour. The top 10% of earners made more than $46,180, while the bottom 10% made less than $23,540.

Nurse assistants had a median salary of $28,430 in 2017, or $13.69 per hour. The top 10% of earners made more than $39,560, while the bottom 10% made less than $20,710.

Job outlook: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

The job outlook for medical assistants and nurse assistants is similar. Both occupations are expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years. Medical assistants are projected to grow 23 percent from 2019 to 2029, while nurse assistants are projected to grow 26 percent during that same time period.

There are a few differences between these two occupations, however. Medical assistants tend to earn slightly more than nurse assistants, with a median salary of $33,610 per year compared to $28,530 per year for nurse assistants. Additionally, medical assistant jobs are more likely to be found in hospitals, while nurse assistant jobs are more common in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Education and training: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

There is a big difference in the education and training required for medical assistants vs nurse assistants. Medical assistants usually only need a postsecondary certificate, although some states may require certification. Nurse assistants must complete an accredited program and pass a competency exam. Both medical assistants and nurse assistants must complete a background check and drug test.

In terms of job duties, medical assistants generally perform administrative and clinical tasks in doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics or other healthcare facilities. They might take patients’ vital signs, prepare them for examinations, give them injections or assist with other procedures. Nurse assistants provide basic patient care under the supervision of licensed practical nurses or registered nurses. They might take patients’ vital signs, help them bathe, dress, eat and move around, make their beds and document their activities and care.

Both medical assistants and nurse assistants typically work full time, although some medical assistants may work part time. The hours can be long and sometimes irregular, as they often have to work evenings, weekends or holidays. Overtime is common in both jobs.

Skills: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

Both medical assistants and nurse assistants provide care and support to patients in healthcare facilities. Although their job duties may overlap, there are some key differences between these two roles.

Medical assistants typically have more clinical responsibilities, such as taking vital signs, administering injections, and performing minor medical procedures. They may also be responsible for scheduling appointments, handling insurance paperwork, and keeping patient medical records In contrast, nurse assistants are more focused on providing bedside care to patients. This can include bathing and feeding patients, helping them to move around, and providing emotional support. Nurse assistants may also be responsible for taking patients’ temperatures, blood pressure readings, and other vital signs.

Work environment: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

There are a variety of work environments for both Medical Assistants and Nurse Assistants. Here are some examples:

Medical Assistants:
-Physician’s office
-Clinic
-Hospital
-Outpatient surgery center
-Insurance company
-HMO
-Long-term care facility
Nurse Assistants:
-Nursing home
–Home Health Care agency
-Hospice
-Hospital

Advancement opportunities: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

Advancement opportunities: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant
Medical assistants and nurse assistants are both important members of the healthcare team. They both provide basic patient care, but there are some important differences between the two roles. Medical assistants typically have more clinical duties, while nurse assistants have more administrative duties. Here’s a look at the average salaries for medical assistants and nurse assistants, as well as the advancement opportunities for each role.

Medical assistants
The average salary for a medical assistant is $32,000 per year. Medical assistants can find jobs in doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. They typically have more clinical duties than administrative duties. Medical assistants may be responsible for taking patient medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting with examinations and procedures, and giving injections. They may also schedule appointments, bill patients, and perform other office tasks. Some medical assistants choose to specialize in a certain area of medicine, such as pediatrics or geriatrics.

Nurse assistants
The average salary for a nurse assistant is $28,000 per year. Nurse assistants can find jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health agencies They typically have more administrative duties than clinical duties. Nurse aides may be responsible for taking patient vital signs, documenting patient care activities, and updating patient charts. They may also schedule appointments and perform other office tasks. Some nurse aides choose to specialize in a certain area of nursing care, such as hospice or rehabilitation.

Pros and cons: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

The average medical assistant salary is $33,610, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The average nurse assistant salary is $29,430, according to the BLS. Both medical assistants and nurse assistants provide basic patient care and perform administrative duties in doctors’ offices, hospitals and other health care facilities.

Medical assistants typically have more clinical responsibilities than nurse assistants. Medical assistants may take medical histories and record vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, assist physicians with patients during examinations, give injections and help remove sutures. In some states, they may also be allowed to perform basic laboratory tests. Medical assistants must complete a postsecondary education program of either one or two years to get certified or registered.

Nurse assistants provide many of the same services as medical assistants but have less responsibility for patient care. They may help patients bathe, dress and eat; turn or reposition bedridden patients; collect urine samples; take vital signs; prepare rooms for new patients; stock supplies; answer call lights; record patients’ intake and output; and keep patients’ rooms clean. Nurse assistants must complete a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours to get certified.

What to consider: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

When it comes to medical assistant vs nurse assistant, there are a few key things to consider. For example, medical assistants typically have more general duties while nurse assistants usually have more specific, patient-focused duties. Medical assistants also typically earn less than nurse assistants. However, both medical assistants and nurse assistants play important roles in the healthcare industry.

FAQs: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

FAQs: Medical Assistant vs Nurse Assistant

Question: What’s the Difference Between a Medical Assistant and Nurse Assistant?
Answer: Educational requirements, job duties, and salaries vary between medical assistants and nurse assistants. Medical assistants usually have formal training from an accredited program and may perform more clinical duties than nurse assistants. Nursing assistants typically need to complete a state-approved training program and must pass a competency exam before they can work. Salaries for medical assistants and nurse assistants can also vary depending on experience, geographic location, and place of employment.

Question: What Do Medical Assistants Do?
Answer: Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties may include scheduling appointments, taking medical histories, recording patients’ vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting with procedures, and giving patient instructions. Some medical assistants also perform basic laboratory tests and perform simple diagnostic procedures.

Question: What Do Nurse Assistants Do?
Answer: Nurse assistants provide basic patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. They typically work in hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or home health agencies. Duties of nurse assistants include taking vital signs, bathing and grooming patients, moving patients to different positions in bed, providing range-of-motion exercises, turning and transferring patients from bed to wheelchair or stretcher, toileting patients, recording food and fluid intake and output measurements, monitoring patients for changes in condition, collecting specimens for lab testing, and communicating information about patients to the nursing staff.