School Nurse:
* Focus: Primarily focused on the health and well-being of students and staff within a school setting. Their work is preventative and reactive.
* Scope of Practice: Provides basic first aid, administers medications (as prescribed by a physician), assesses students' health concerns, conducts health screenings (vision, hearing, etc.), manages chronic conditions in students, educates students and staff on health issues, communicates with parents/guardians and physicians, and implements school health policies. Their scope is generally limited to what's needed in a school environment and doesn't involve advanced medical procedures.
* Setting: Works exclusively in schools.
* Education: Typically requires a registered nurse (RN) license and may need additional certifications in school nursing.
Medical Technician:
* Focus: A broad term encompassing various specialized roles depending on the area of expertise (e.g., phlebotomy technician, EKG technician, respiratory technician, surgical technician). They assist physicians and other healthcare professionals in providing patient care.
* Scope of Practice: Performs specific clinical procedures and tests under the supervision of a physician or other licensed healthcare professional. This can include drawing blood, performing electrocardiograms, assisting in surgery, collecting specimens, and operating medical equipment. Their scope varies significantly depending on their specialization.
* Setting: Works in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and physician's offices. It's unlikely they would work solely in a school.
* Education: Varies greatly depending on the specialization. Some require a certificate or associate's degree, while others require a bachelor's degree or even more advanced training.
In short: A school nurse is a registered nurse specializing in the health needs of students, while a medical technician is a broader term describing various allied health professionals who perform specific clinical tasks under supervision. Their roles and responsibilities are quite distinct, though some overlap might exist in basic first aid skills.