Summary 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
- 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.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddles — Automated external defibrillators AED |
| Electronic medical thermometers — Electronic patient thermometers; Oral thermometers; Rectal thermometers; Tympanic thermometers |
| 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
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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) |
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.
