What does a Nursing Assistant do?
Nursing Assistants work in medical care facilities or in hospice environments to help Nurses in providing care to patients. They often help patients with basic daily activities, like dressing, bathing, standing or exercising. Nursing Assistants will typically work with Nurses and Physicians to determine a patient’s health issues and receive and follow a treatment plan to help the patients return to stable health.
They’re also responsible for taking note of the patient’s progress and recording their food and liquid intakes for the nursing staff to review. A Nurse evaluates these results and instructs the Nursing Assistant to follow their adjusted treatment plan for the patient.
Nursing Assistant skills and qualifications
There are certain skills and qualifications that are important to be a Nursing Assistant, including:
- Excellent attention to detail
- Great written and verbal communication
- Ability to carefully read and follow directions
- Flexibility in work duties and schedule
- Good teamwork skills
- Ability to lift and move patients
- Good foundation of clinical skills and knowledge
Nursing Assistant salary expectations
A Nursing Assistant makes an average of $14.02 per hour with an additional $4,500 per year in overtime pay. Pay rate may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.
Nursing Assistant salary expectations
-
Common salary:
20.50 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
8.45 -37.65 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Nursing Assistant education and training requirements
Nursing Assistants need to complete an accredited training program and pass a state-issued exam. In order to qualify for a training program, they need a high school diploma or GED. Programs can take one to four months to complete and involve classroom instruction and practical experience. Certified Nursing Assistants should be listed on the CNA registry.
Nursing Assistant experience requirements
Since being a Nursing Assistant is usually an entry-level job, they little to no prior experience. Graduates from certified nursing programs complete in-person training, so they have some experience. Some employers may prefer Nursing Assistants with at least one year of experience, especially if they need to work with special types of patients who need extra care. In most cases, Nursing Assistants receive on-the-job training from Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses until they feel comfortable enough to perform their responsibilities with little supervision.
Job description samples for similar positions
If you’re writing a job description for a related position to the Nursing Assistant, see our job descriptions for similar roles:
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.