Nursing Aid Careers

Nursing aides work under the direction of nurses and other medical staff and are responsible for a wide variety of patient care duties.

What is the environment like for a nursing aid?
Many nursing aides work in a hospital environment, although there are a growing number of nursing aides who work in nursing homes, hospices or rehabilitation facilities. The majority of their time is spent providing direct patient care and they interact with and assist patients with a variety of duties on a daily basis.

What does a nursing aid do?
A nursing aide will commonly help patients with general care responsibilities such as bathing, getting dressed and eating. They will also help patients get into and out of bed as well as making beds and giving patients water. A nursing aide is also responsible for answering a patient's call light whenever they need assistance and assist with room cleaning. Checking a patient's vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and respiration rate are also a common responsibility of a nursing aide. A nursing aide can also expect to assist patients in going to the bathroom and changing bedpans.

They will spend the majority of their working day on their feet either standing or walking and occasionally lifting patients. Excellent communication skills are required for the position as a nursing aide will frequently be interacting with a variety of different patients on a regular basis. They must also learn to be patient and understanding since some patients may be difficult and uncooperative. It is not uncommon for most nursing aides to work a full time schedule that includes weekends and holidays.

What education is requred to become a nursing aid?
A college degree is not a requirement to become a nursing aide, although a high school diploma is necessary. Many facilities will provide on the job training. Certification is mandatory for a nursing aide to work in a nursing home and this can be accomplished by taking a few classes and passing an exam.

If a person is interested in becoming a nursing aide and is wondering if this field would be a good fit for their personality and skills, they should consider taking an aptitude test. This assessment will allow a person to discover what their strengths and talents are, and a career recommendation can be made based on their interests and skills.

Medical and healthcare careers related to the nursing aid field:

• CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Medical Assistant
• Nursing
• Nurse Practitioner
• Physician Assistant
• Physician