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General Aide

Overview

Nursing aides, also known as nursing assistants, geriatric aides, unlicensed assistive personnel, or hospital attendants, perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. They answer patients' call bells, deliver messages, serve meals, make beds, and help patients eat, dress, and bathe. Aides also may provide skin care to patients; take temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; and 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, or assist with some procedures. Aides observe patients' physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report any change to the nursing or medical staff.

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General Aide 14 May 2008 [pdf, 164 KB]

Working Conditions

Most full-time aides work about 40 hours a week, but because patients need care 24 hours a day, some aides work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Many work part time. Aides spend many hours standing and walking, and they often face heavy workloads.

AA woman helping old Cauc man fm bed to walker (Photo: Getty Images)

Average Salary

$19,947

Years in school

0

Job outlook

Excellent

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Academic Requirements

In many cases, neither a high school diploma nor previous work experience is necessary for a job as a nursing, psychiatric, or home health aide. Nursing aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing homes, and some community colleges. Search for schools that provide training for this career.

For more information on pursuing this or another career in nursing, see DiscoverNursing.Com.