What is a Nursing Assistant?
Job Description: Provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. Perform duties such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, or move patients, or change linens. May transfer or transport patients. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
Life As a Nursing Assistant
- Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray) equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
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Skills Needed to be a Nursing Assistant
Nursing Assistants state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Other Nursing Assistant Job Titles
- Patient Care Associate
- Medical Attendant
- First Aid Attendant
- Nursing Home Aide
- Ward Helper
Is There Job Demand for Nursing Assistants?
There were about 1,510,300 jobs for Nursing Assistant in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 173,400 new jobs for Nursing Assistant by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 195,100 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Nursing Assistant are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Connecticut, Wisconsin, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Nursing Assistants Salary
The typical yearly salary for Nursing Assistants is somewhere between $21,290 and $39,560.
Nursing Assistants who work in Alaska, New York, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
How much do Nursing Assistants make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $24,110 |
| Alaska | $39,830 |
| Arizona | $31,450 |
| Arkansas | $25,080 |
| California | $35,220 |
| Colorado | $32,610 |
| Connecticut | $33,390 |
| Delaware | $30,780 |
| District of Columbia | $33,510 |
| Florida | $26,840 |
| Georgia | $25,870 |
| Hawaii | $35,770 |
| Idaho | $27,400 |
| Illinois | $28,810 |
| Indiana | $27,210 |
| Iowa | $29,120 |
| Kansas | $26,210 |
| Kentucky | $26,800 |
| Louisiana | $22,750 |
| Maine | $28,710 |
| Maryland | $31,310 |
| Massachusetts | $33,630 |
| Michigan | $30,130 |
| Minnesota | $33,710 |
| Mississippi | $23,100 |
| Missouri | $25,930 |
| Montana | $29,110 |
| Nebraska | $28,730 |
| Nevada | $35,130 |
| New Hampshire | $32,200 |
| New Jersey | $30,380 |
| New Mexico | $28,310 |
| New York | $37,010 |
| North Carolina | $25,570 |
| North Dakota | $33,990 |
| Ohio | $27,570 |
| Oklahoma | $25,690 |
| Oregon | $33,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,630 |
| Rhode Island | $31,340 |
| South Carolina | $25,390 |
| South Dakota | $26,820 |
| Tennessee | $26,400 |
| Texas | $27,030 |
| Utah | $27,880 |
| Vermont | $30,730 |
| Virginia | $28,770 |
| Washington | $32,130 |
| West Virginia | $26,410 |
| Wisconsin | $29,590 |
| Wyoming | $30,910 |
What Tools & Technology do Nursing Assistants Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nursing Assistants may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- MEDITECH software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Medical condition coding software
- Billing software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- PointClickCare
- Medical record charting software
How do I Become a Nursing Assistant?
What education is needed to be a Nursing Assistant?
What work experience do I need to become a Nursing Assistant?
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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