Details Report for:
31-1014.00 - Nursing Assistants
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.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
- Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
- Change bed linens or make beds.
- Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
- Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
- Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- Prepare or serve food trays.
- 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.
- Record height or weight of patients.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- 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.
- Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
- Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
- Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- Provide information such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
- Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
Tools & Technology Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Tools used in this occupation:
| Arm orthopedic softgoods — Patient arm slings |
| Automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles — Automated external defibrillators AED |
| Canes or cane accessories — Walking canes |
| Electronic medical thermometers — Electronic patient thermometers; Oral thermometers; Rectal thermometers; Tympanic thermometers |
| Electronic stethoscopes or accessories — Electronic stethoscopes |
| Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy — Gait belts |
| Glucose monitors or meters — Blood glucometers |
| Gurneys or scissor lifts — Medical gurneys |
| Medical gas cylinders or related devices — Oxygen tanks |
| Patient shifting boards or accessories — Patient transfer boards |
| Photocopiers — Photocopying equipment |
| Pulse oximeter units — Pulse oximeters |
| Shower or bath chairs or seats for the physically challenged — Shower chairs |
| Therapeutic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs — Therapeutic cold packs; Therapeutic hot packs |
| Wheelchairs — Patient transport wheelchairs |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Accounting software — Billing software |
| Data base user interface and query software — Health information database software |
| Medical software — GE Healthcare Centricity EMR; Medical record charting software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
Work Values Save Table (XLS/CSV)
 Extent |
Work Value |
|
|---|---|---|
78   |
Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
| 61 |
Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
| 36 |
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
| 33 |
Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
| 22 |
Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
| 22 |
Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Employment data collected from Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.
Industry data collected from Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.
| Median wages (2012) | $11.74 hourly, $24,420 annual |
| Employment (2010) | 1,505,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) | 
Faster than average (20% to 28%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) | 496,100 |
| Top industries (2010) | Health Care and Social Assistance (89% employed in this sector)
|
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Job Openings on the Web
Find Jobs
for Nursing Assistants
State & National Job Banks
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition.
- National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC)
, 228 7th St. SE, Washington, DC 20003. Phone: (202) 547-7424. Fax: (202) 547-3540.
