What will I do in this job?
As a Nursing or Psychiatric Aide, you will help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled or infirmed individuals confined to hospitals, nursing homes, and mental health settings.
Nursing Aides, (Nursing Assistants, Geriatric Aides, unlicensed Assistive Personnel, or Hospital Attendants):
- observe patients’ physical, mental and emotional conditions and report any change to the nursing or medical staff
- take temperatures, pulse, respiration, blood pressure
- provide skin care to patients
- help patients eat, dress, and bathe
- help patients get in and out of bed
- answer patients’ call bells
- serve meals
- escort patients to operating and examining rooms
- set up equipment
- store and move supplies
Nursing Aides employed in nursing homes are often the principal caregivers, having far more contract with residents than other members of the staff.
Psychiatric Aides: (Mental Health Assistants and Psychiatric Nursing Assistants):
- care for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals
- work under a team that may include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and therapists
- help patients dress, bathe, groom, and eat
- socialize with patients and lead educational and recreational activities
- observe patients and report any physical or behavioral signs, which might be important for the professional staff to know
- accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments
Because they have the closest contact with patients, Psychiatric Aides have a great deal of influence on their patients’ outlook and treatments.
Will I need a special license?
No, however most States have a State Registry of Nursing Aides.
What type of education will I need?
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. A few employers, however, require some training or experience.
Will I find a job?
Overall employment of nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. Employment of home health aides is expected to grow the fastest, as a result of both growing demand for home healthcare services from an aging population and efforts to contain healthcare costs by moving patients out of hospitals and nursing care facilities as quickly as possible.
How much will I make?
Median Salary: $9.59/hour (Ranges from $7.00/hour - $13.50/hour)
(2003-2004)
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