Nursing Assistants

At a glance

  • Median Salary
    $29,811
  • Local Jobs
    1,984
  • Entry-Level Education
    Certification
Nursing assistant helping patient

Occupation Profile

Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

By the Numbers

Daily Tasks

  • Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
  • Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients’ needs.
  • Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
  • Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
  • Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
  • Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
  • Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
  • Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
  • Review patients’ dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
  • Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
  • Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
  • Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
  • Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
  • Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
  • Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
  • Prepare or serve food trays.
  • Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
  • Change bed linens or make beds.
  • Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
  • Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
  • Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
  • Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
  • Record height or weight of patients.
  • Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
  • Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
  • Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.

Occupational Skills

What skills are necessary for a Nursing Assistants career?

Hard Skills

  • Activities Of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Linens
  • Medical Records
  • Medical Terminology
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Care
  • Patient Assistance
  • Patient Transport
  • Vital Signs

Soft Skills

  • Clerical Works
  • Communications
  • Compassion
  • Computer Literacy
  • Customer Service
  • Ethical Standards And Conduct
  • Leadership
  • Lifting Ability
  • Management
  • Operations

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.

Educational Programs

  • TypeCredentialHrsOnlineFinancial Aid
    CertificateCert160YesNo
  • TypeCredentialHrsOnlineFinancial Aid
    AHL117NoYes
  • TypeCredentialHrsOnlineFinancial Aid
    AHL119NoYes
  • TypeCredentialHrsOnlineFinancial Aid
    CECert144NoYes
  • Learn more aboutNursing Assistants

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    Nursing assistant helping patient

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