How to Become a Nursing Aide
Nursing Aides provide general care to the physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled or infirm individuals confined to hospitals, nursing care facilities, and mental health settings.
Employment is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.
Job prospects are excellent.
Here's what you need to know:
1) What is a Nursing Aide?
2) Requirements for the career
3) Salary Potential
4) Schools
1) What is a Nursing Aide?
Nursing aides are also known as nursing assistants or hospital attendants.
They perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff such as answering patients? call lights, delivering messages, serving meals, making beds and helping patients eat, dress and bathe.
They also take patients' temperatures, pulse rate, respiration rate and blood pressure.
They help patients get in and out of bed and walk. They also may escort patients to operating and examining rooms, keep patients? rooms neat, set up equipment, store and move supplies and assist with some procedures.
Nursing Aides observe patients? physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report any change to the nursing or medical staff.
2) Career Requirements
Below are some career requirements:
- successful completion of a state-approved nursing aide program
- pass a state competency exam
- fingerprint clearance is required
- desire to help others
- must be in good health
- ability to lift patients
3) Salary Potential
Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting, and years of experience.
The average annual salary of a Nursing Aide is approximately $24,000.
4) Nursing Aide Schools
Nursing aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing care facilities, and some community colleges.
Courses usually cover body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, communication skills, and resident rights.
Personal care skills, such as how to help patients bathe, eat, and groom also are taught.