Career Details
Career Details
Use this dropdown to update your zip code
Back to top
Career Details
31-1131.00 - Nursing Assistants
31-1131.00 - 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.
Key Facts

Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
N/A
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
N/A
Estimate
Change in Employment
N/A
Estimate
Change in Employment %
N/A
Estimate
Tasks

Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- 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.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
- Prepare or serve food trays.
- 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.
- Record height or weight of patients.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
Supplemental
- Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
- Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray) equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
- Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.
- Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge

Knowledge
The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools

Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology

Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications

Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing

Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs

Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.
Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.