Career Profile: Nursing Assistants

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 1,343,700 people employed as nursing assistants in the United States. The median annual salary is $30,310. Entry level employees earn approximately $23,880 per year and senior employees earn approximately $44,240 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• 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.
• Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
• Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
• 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.
• Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
• 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.
• Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
• Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
• Record height or weight of patients.
• Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
• 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.
• 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.
• Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
• Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
• Prepare or serve food trays.
• Change bed linens or make beds.
• Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
• Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
• Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
• Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
• Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
• Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
• 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.
• Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
• Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
• Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
• Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.
• Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.

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