Nurses Aide / Nursing Assistant Careers
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What a Nurses Aide / Nursing Assistant does:
A Nursing Assistant or Nurses Aide is responsible for providing basic nursing duties under the supervision of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN).
Nurses Aides are not registered nurses, so do not have the powers of a registered nurse. A Nurses Aide provides assistance to registered nurses in their duties.
A Nursing Assistant can become certified and receive the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential. CNAs are often very experienced but are unable to perform many advanced duties, this is due to legal issues and lack of full training.
Working as a CNA gives an individual a good insight into the healthcare profession, as Nurses Aides can work in any environment that a Nurse works in, i.e. Hospitals, Community Centers, Schools, Nursing Homes and Hospices.
The main duties of a Nursing Assistant / Nurses Aide include:
- Reporting to the supervising Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Observing patients
- Administering first aid and CPR
- Assisting Registered Nurses in their daily duties
- Keeping the patient's area clean and tidy
- Making Beds
- Preparing meal trays
- Assisting patients in daily activities such as Washing, Eating, Toileting, Shaving etc.
- Transporting patients to treatment or therapy rooms
Education & Qualifications:
Nursing Assistant programs are run by high schools, vocational colleges, technical centers, nursing care facilities, and community colleges. Courses last for 6 - 12 weeks and cover subjects such as nutrition, anatomy, physiology, body mechanics, infection control and communication skills.
Practical skills such as bathing patients and helping patients eat are also covered. The CNA is a credential gained by passing an examination or registering completion of hours worked in a hospital or other health care facility. CNAs are not registered nurses so they are limited their responsibilities.
Salary & Job Prospects:
Certified Nurse Assistants can earn between $9.50 and $13 per hour. High employment growth is expected for Nursing Assistants/Nurses Aides.
This is due to the aging population, and the need to replace workers who leave to pursue other healthcare careers. Also hiring Nursing Assistants frees up Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to work on more critical tasks.
Below is a list of some of the various types of allied health careers / professions: