Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Nursing Assistants
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.
Table of Contents
Job Description
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. They also answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients’ needs.
Other tasks include:
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- 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.
- Review patients’ dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
We asked Nursing Assistants how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
72%
78%
72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 78% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.
Typical Day At Work
On a daily basis, Nursing Assistants remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements. They restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
A typical day for a Nursing Assistant will also include:
- Prepare or serve food trays.
- Review patients’ dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
We asked some Nursing Assistants a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.
Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? | 60% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 71% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 85% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 37% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 27% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 59% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Nursing Assistants also record height or weight of patients. They may also collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Nursing Assistants Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays. They might also Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
In addition, they Provide information such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.
To some Nursing Assistants, it is also their responsibility to Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
Working life
Less than 40 hours per week
Regular schedule like a 9 to 5
In a typical work week as a Nursing Assistant, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.
Is this right for me
The Helpers and The Organizers
People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Learn more about Nursing Assistants
Summary | |
Job Description (You are here) | |
Salary | |
Requirements | |
Quiz |
Related to Nursing Assistants Job Description
Nursing Assistants job description, what do Nursing Assistants do, typical day for Nursing Assistants, what is it like to work as a Nursing Assistant, how many hours do Nursing Assistants work, day to day work of a Nursing Assistant