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.
What is this job like?
- Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Record height or weight of patients.
- Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
- Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
- Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment 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.
- Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
- Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- 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.
- Change bed linens or make beds.
- Prepare or serve food trays.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.
- Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
- Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
- Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
- Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
- Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
Salary
Hourly Wage
$28,030
$35,760
$45,940
$13.48
$17.19
$22.09