Job Prospects: Excellent
Typical Annual Compensation

• Bay Area………………. $27,468 - $35,952
• Central Valley………. $23,938 - $31,122
• Sacramento…………. $25,328 - $32,171
                                     Source: Salary.com

In 2008, the median annual earnings of nursing aides were $25,500 in California and $23,800 nationwide. The median hourly rate was $12.28 in California, with the highest wages paid by local governments and staffing agencies; general medical and surgical hospitals were next, followed by nursing care facilities. The lowest wages were paid by community care facilities for the elderly.

Over half of nursing aides work in nursing and residential care facilities and about a third work in hospitals.

Job Outlook

Excellent job opportunities for nursing aides will result from a combination of rapid employment growth – largely in response to the long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population – and the need to replace many workers who leave the occupation each year. Employment of nursing aides is expected to grow by 22 percent in California and 18 percent overall in the US. That will mean about 3000 openings per year in California and 40,000 annual openings nationwide, at least through 2016.

Financial pressures on hospitals to discharge patients as soon as possible should boost admissions to nursing care facilities, which will make job openings more numerous in nursing and residential care facilities than in hospitals. Advances in medical technology also drive demand for nursing aides because, as the technology saves and extends more lives, it increases the need for long-term care.

The high replacement needs for nursing aides reflect modest entry requirements, low pay, high physical and emotional demands, and limited opportunities for advancement within the occupation. For these same reasons, the number of people looking to enter the field will be limited.

Experience as an aide often helps individuals decide whether to pursue a career in healthcare, and many aides leave the occupation to attend training programs for more advanced positions.

Job Duties

Nursing aides and home health aides are among the occupations commonly referred to as direct care workers, due to their role in working with patients who need long-term care. The specific care they provide depends on their specialty.

Nursing aides, also known as nurse aides, nursing assistants, certified nursing assistants, geriatric aides, unlicensed assistive personnel, orderlies, or hospital attendants, provide hands-on care and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff.

Aides may be responsible for applying dressings, collecting specimens, and taking a patient’s temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. They also may help provide care to patients by assisting them into and out of bed, helping them walk, escorting them to operating or examining rooms, and providing massages and skin care.

Aides help other medical staff by setting up equipment, storing and moving supplies, and assisting with some procedures. They observe patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions, record their intake of food and liquids, and report any change in a patient’s condition to the nursing or medical staff.

Aides employed in nursing care facilities often are the principal caregivers, having far more contact with residents than do other members of the staff. Because some residents may stay in a nursing care facility for months or even years, aides develop ongoing relationships and interact with them in a positive, caring way.

Work Environment

Nursing aides spend many hours standing and walking, and they often face heavy workloads. They may have to lift or move patients into and out of bed, so they must be careful to follow proper procedures to avoid back injuries. Aides also face hazards from minor infections and major diseases, but can protect themselves by following proper procedures.

Aides perform ‘unpleasant’ tasks such as emptying bedpans and changing soiled bed linens. The patients they care for may be disoriented, irritable or uncooperative.

Most full-time aides work about 40 hours per week and, with the necessity of 24/7 care, some must work evenings, nights, weekends or holidays. About one in four aides works part time.

Job Requirements

Nursing aides must be tactful, patient, understanding, emotionally stable, dependable, and have a desire to help people. They should be able to work as part of a team, have good communication skills, and be willing to perform repetitive, routine tasks. A high school diploma or GED is usually required.

Aides must be in good health and pass a physical examination, including state-regulated tests such as those for tuberculosis. Most employers also conduct a criminal background check.

Education and Training

Nursing aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing care facilities, and some community colleges. Courses cover body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, communication skills, and resident rights. Aides also learn personal care skills, such as how to help patients to bathe, eat, and groom themselves.

Training for new hires may last from several days to a few months. Some employers provide classroom instruction, lectures and workshops, while others rely exclusively on informal on-the-job instruction by a licensed nurse or an experienced aide.

For employers who receive reimbursement from Medicare, federal law requires home health aides to pass a competency test covering a wide range of areas. The National Association for Home Care and Hospice offers voluntary certification for home health aides. Some states require aides to be licensed.

Similar federal requirements exist for aides who work in nursing care facilities. They must complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training and pass a competency evaluation. Aides who complete the program are known as certified nurse assistants (CNAs) and are placed on the State Registry of Nursing Aides.

Without additional training in a healthcare specialty, opportunities for advancement are limited. The most common healthcare occupations for former aides are licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, and medical assistant.

FYI - For more information on healthcare careers, visit these websites:
CareerVoyages.gov – In the left column, click on Health Care, then ‘In-Demand Occupations’ for job descriptions, video profiles, and salary info from the US Dept of Labor.

ExploreHealthCareers.org – A collaboration between several healthcare associations and organizations, this site is an excellent resource for information on all careers in healthcare and medicine. Determine what career might fit you best, and search for schools and academic programs by specialty and state.

GuidetoHealthcareSchools.com – Information on 1000+ schools offering over 4200 healthcare degrees and training programs, including holistic, certifications, and technician training.