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.
Common Job Titles
- Certified Nurses Aide (CNA)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Nursing Assistant
- Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
What You'll Need to Succeed
AI-generatedKey competencies for this occupation at a glance
- Hands-onPerform basic patient care activities including bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting in health or nursing facilities under the direction of licensed nursing staff.Proficient
- KnowledgeAssess patient health status and vital signs using monitoring equipment, documenting observations and reporting changes to supervising nurses.Proficient
- KnowledgeEvaluate patient responses to care interventions and compliance with treatment protocols, collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to optimize care delivery.Proficient
- KnowledgeOrganize daily care activities and workflow prioritization, managing time effectively across multiple patient assignments in fast-paced healthcare environments.Proficient
- MindsetEngage with patients to provide compassionate emotional support and maintain dignity while performing personal care tasks in long-term care and acute settings.Developing
- Hands-onOperate patient mobility equipment including hydraulic lifts, wheelchairs, and transfer boards following safety protocols to prevent patient injury during ambulation and transfers.Developing
- KnowledgeApply knowledge of infection control and safety procedures, maintaining sterile environments and proper use of protective equipment in clinical settings.Developing
- Hands-onExecute specimen collection, glucose monitoring, and vital sign measurement using medical devices such as pulse oximeters, blood pressure cuffs, and thermometers under established protocols.Developing
- KnowledgeExplain care procedures and activity instructions to patients and family members, promoting patient understanding and participation in their care plan.Developing
- KnowledgeDemonstrate accurate documentation of patient care activities in electronic health record systems, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and continuity of care.Developing
- MindsetRespect patient autonomy, privacy, and cultural preferences when providing personal care and establishing therapeutic relationships.Developing
- MindsetRecognize patient emotional and psychological needs through active listening and social perceptiveness, adapting communication approaches to diverse patient populations.Emerging
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Nursing Assistants (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
1,388,430
Wage Distribution by Percentile
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $31,390. 25th percentile: U.S. $36,260. 50th percentile: U.S. $39,530. 75th percentile: U.S. $46,070. 90th percentile: U.S. $50,140. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
- U.S.
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $31,390 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $50,140 |
| Workers on average earn | $41,270 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
- Medicine and Dentistry3.1/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
- Apache Spark
- Epic Systems
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Technology Skills
- Billing software
- FaceTime
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Health information database software
- Medical condition coding software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Medical record charting software
- PointClickCare healthcare software
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable hospital beds
- Anti-embolism elastic stockings
- Automated blood pressure cuffs
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Bed cradles
- Bladder ultrasounds
- Blood glucometers
- Clinical trapeze traction bars