A nurse aide job description explains a paraprofessional that helps the individuals with physical or mental disabilities. Their work is under direct supervision of a registered nurse or another health care professional. Their daily duties and responsibilities include serving meals and, if needed, helping the patients that can’t eat by themselves, helping the patients to dress, bathe, and go to the toilet, transferring patients, and measuring the basic parameters like checking vital signs, measuring blood pressure, and temperature. They are also responsible for the documentation and safety awareness of the patients. Depending on the training level their duties and responsibilities can vary from those listed.
Education and training
Becoming a nurse aid or nurse assistant requires completing a state approved education and a training program through community colleges, medical facilities, nursing homes, high schools or Red Cross. After passing the state competency examination, you can take the certification from the educational program and you need to take a brief period on the job training to learn and get comfortable with all the specific duties and procedures. You can also choose to be certified in a special area, but some of the requirements vary in different states. The CMA or certified medication assistant can also give medications.
Work Description
The nurse aids are giving the basic health care for patients and residents in nursing homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or other health care facilities. They can work in the public and private sector. Their work is spent mainly on foot taking care for the patients needs. They have increased physical tasks and are trained how to properly assist, lift or move patients with injuries. Good physical stamina, patience and compassion attitude, as well as great communication skills are required qualities for the working place of any nurse aide. They are working full time, and their schedule hours may include working during weekends, nights, or holidays.
Salary
The median annual salary for nurse aide in 2018 was $28,530 or $13.72 per hour. The employment for this occupation is projected to grow 21% in the next ten years, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to the growing number of the elderly population.
