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What does a Nursing Assistant do?

A nursing assistant, or a nurse's aide, provides basic care to patients and helps them carry out certain daily tasks they cannot do on their own due to illness. They work in home care, correctional institutions, hospitals, nursing homes and other health care centers. They typically work under the supervision of a licensed nurse, and they are the patients' major caregivers in nursing care facilities.

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Working as a Nursing Assistant

Nursing assistants carry out the following duties:

  • Assisting patients with daily activities they can't undertake on their own
  • Administering medications to patients
  • Bathing and dressing patients
  • Serving meals and helping patients eat
  • Assisting bedridden patients by turning or repositioning them on the bed
  • Checking patients' vital signs (such as pulse, blood pressure and temperature)
  • Reporting any changes in a patient's behavior or condition to a licensed nurse
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How much does a Nursing Assistant make in the United States?

Average base salary

$19.61
Average $19.61
Low $13.78
High $27.91
Overtime
$4,500per year
Non-cash benefit
401(k)
View more benefits

The average salary for a nursing assistant is $19.61 per hour in the United States and $4,500 overtime per year.358.9k salaries reported, updated at September 19, 2023

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Where can a Nursing Assistant earn more?

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How much do similar professions get paid in United States?

Home Health Aide

Job openings

Average $15.80 per hour

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Common questions about for a Nursing Assistant

How are certified nursing assistants (CNAs) affected during COVID-19?

Owing to the pandemic, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are expected to take on greater responsibility in screening and caring for patients. To ensure that healthcare workers can be deployed as needed, some states have waived restrictions on licensing and introduced online modules for CNAs to learn tasks that would usually be performed by nurses.

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What does a certified nursing assistant (CNA) do?

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide basic care to patients, as well as assist them in daily activities they might have trouble with on their own, such as bathing and eating. CNA's can be found in hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities. They typically work under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

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Who can employ certified nursing assistants (CNA)?

Hospitals, assisted living facilities and long-term care facilities are among the most common places of employment for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Similarly, CNAs can also work in hospice and home healthcare settings as well as rehabilitation centers.

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What are the benefits of being a certified nursing assistant (CNA)?

What age can you become a certified nursing assistant (CNA)?

Can you be a nursing assistant without certification?

How much does certified nursing assistant (CNA) training cost?

Are certified nursing assistant (CNA) jobs easy to get?

How many hours does a certified nursing assistant (CNA) work per week?

What is the difference between a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and a registered nurse (RN)?

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