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Healthcare Support

Nursing Assistants

Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Nursing Assistants
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Median pay

$39,530
Median annual pay for Nursing Assistants.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

2.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

204,100
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

1,441,500
Estimated U.S. employment for Nursing Assistants in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+32,600
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Postsecondary nondegree award
Typical education needed to enter Nursing Assistants.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

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Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Monitoring
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Speaking
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2Administration and Management
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Public Safety and Security
  5. 5Medicine and Dentistry
  6. 6Education and Training

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Problem Sensitivity
  3. 3Near Vision
  4. 4Oral Expression
  5. 5Speech Recognition
  6. 6Static Strength

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Empathy
  2. 2Cooperation
  3. 3Dependability
  4. 4Attention to Detail
  5. 5Optimism
  6. 6Integrity

Work activities

  1. 1Assisting and Caring for Others
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  4. 4Documenting/Recording Information
  5. 5Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  6. 6Performing General Physical Activities

Work context

  1. 1Contact With Others
  2. 2Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  3. 3Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  4. 4Spend Time Walking or Running
  5. 5Spend Time Standing
  6. 6Health and Safety of Other Workers

Representative 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.
  • Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
  • Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
  • Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.

Software and tools

Apache Spark · hot technologyEpic Systems · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMEDITECH software · hot technologyTelemetry softwarePointClickCare healthcare softwareMedical record charting softwareMedical procedure coding softwareMedical condition coding software

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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