Nursing Assistants
Tasks
Core Tasks Include:
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
- Change bed linens or make beds.
- Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
- Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
- Prepare or serve food trays.
- 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.
- Record height or weight of patients.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
Supplemental Tasks Include:
- Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.
- Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray) equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse.
- Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
- Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.
- Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)
