How to become a 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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
What nursing assistants do
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is nursing assistant a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 17% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Oregon $49,830
- Washington $49,180
- New York $48,590
- New Hampshire $47,870
- District of Columbia $47,700
Nursing Assistants salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.