Nursing Assistants

• Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
• Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
• Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
• Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
• Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
• Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
• Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
• Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
• Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
• Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
• Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
• Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
• Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
• Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
• Prepare or serve food trays.
• Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
• Record height or weight of patients.
• Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
• Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
• Change bed linens or make beds.
• Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nursing Assistants.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Nursing Assistants.