Nursing Assistants
What is a Nursing Assistant?
Nursing Assistants, also known as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), play a vital role in the healthcare system by providing essential care and support to patients, particularly those in hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities. They assist patients with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and meal preparation, while also monitoring vital signs and ensuring that patients are comfortable and safe. Nursing Assistants work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs), facilitating communication between patients and the nursing staff to ensure that each patient receives appropriate care. This role requires compassion, patience, and strong interpersonal skills, as Nursing Assistants often interact closely with patients and their families. In addition to hands-on care, Nursing Assistants may also be responsible for maintaining cleanliness in patient areas and ensuring that medical equipment is properly sanitized. Overall, Nursing Assistants are an indispensable part of the healthcare team, contributing significantly to the well-being and recovery of patients.
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.
- 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.
Technology Skills
- Medical software
- Video conferencing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Electronic mail software
- Accounting software
Tools Used
- Electronic medical thermometers
- Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs
- Wheelchairs
- Shower or bath chairs or seats for the physically challenged
- Mobile medical services automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles
Knowledge
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Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
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English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Skills
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Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
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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.
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Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Abilities
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?
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High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate
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Post-secondary certificate
Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)
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Some college, no degree
Work Activities
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Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
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Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Detailed Work Activities
- Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
- Feed patients.
- Record vital statistics or other health information.
- Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
- Assist patients with daily activities.
Work Interests
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Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
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Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
$30020.0 - $48780.0
This career will have large numbers of openings.
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.