Nursing Assistant

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Certified Medication Aide (CMA); Certified Nurse Aide (CNA); Certified Nurses Aide (CNA); Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA); Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA); Nurses' Aide; Nursing Aide; Nursing Assistant; Patient Care Assistant (PCA); State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)

Tasks

• Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
• Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
• 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.
• 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.
• Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
• Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
• Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
• Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
• Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
• Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
• Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
• 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.
• Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Administration and Management
• English Language
• Public Safety and Security
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Education and Training
• Therapy and Counseling

Skills

• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Expression
• Near Vision
• Speech Recognition
• Static Strength
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Trunk Strength
• Extent Flexibility
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Speech Clarity