What is a Nursing Assistant?
Example of Nursing Assistant Job 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.
A Day in the Life of a Nursing Assistant
- Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
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What Every Nursing Assistant Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Nursing Assistants say are important on the job.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Nursing Assistant Jobs
- Competency Evaluated Nurse Aide (CENA)
- Hospice Aide
- Nursing Technician
- Nursing Attendant
- Practical Nurse
Job Opportunities for Nursing Assistants
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,510,300 jobs in the United States for Nursing Assistant. 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. There will be an estimated 195,100 positions for Nursing Assistant per 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.
Nursing Assistant Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Nursing Assistant ranges between $21,290 and $39,560.
Nursing Assistants who work in Alaska, New York, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Nursing Assistants in different U.S. states.
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 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
Becoming a Nursing Assistant
Education needed to be a Nursing Assistant:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Nursing Assistant?
Who Employs Nursing Assistants?
Nursing Assistants work in the following industries:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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