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Occupation Description

Provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. Perform duties, such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, or move patients, or change linens. Exclude "Home Health Aides" and "Psychiatric Aides".

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State and National Wages

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

Location	Pay Period	2008
		10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$8.34	$9.71	$11.46	$13.76	$15.97
	Yearly	$17,300	$20,200	$23,800	$28,600	$33,200
Pennsylvania	Hourly	$8.81	$10.42	$12.03	$14.14	$15.83
	Yearly	$18,300	$21,700	$25,000	$29,400	$32,900

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Workforce Statistics

State and National Trends

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.

Knowledge:

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Skills:

• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• 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.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Source: Occupational Information Network: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

• Administer medications and treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, and douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.
• Answer patients' call signals.
• Answer phones and direct visitors.
• Bathe, groom, shave, dress, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
• Clean rooms and change linens.
• Collect specimens such as urine, feces, or sputum.
• Deliver messages, documents and specimens.
• Explain medical instructions to patients and family members.
• Feed patients who are unable to feed themselves.
• Maintain inventory by storing, preparing, sterilizing, and issuing supplies such as dressing packs and treatment trays.
• Observe patients' conditions, measuring and recording food and liquid intake and output and vital signs, and report changes to professional staff.
• Perform clerical duties such as processing documents and scheduling appointments.
• Prepare, serve, and collect food trays.
• Provide patient care by supplying and emptying bed pans, applying dressings and supervising exercise routines.
• Provide patients with help walking, exercising, and moving in and out of bed.
• Restrain patients if necessary.
• Set up equipment such as oxygen tents, portable x-ray machines, and overhead irrigation bottles.
• Transport patients to treatment units, using a wheelchair or stretcher.
• Turn and reposition bedridden patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
• Work as part of a medical team that examines and treats clinic outpatients.

Generalized Work Activities:

• Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Detailed Work Activities:

• administer enemas, irrigations, or douches to patients
• administer medications or treatments
• assist patient in walking or exercising
• assist patient with dressing, undressing, grooming, or bathing
• change linen
• clean rooms or work areas
• collect specimens from patients
• feed patients
• follow dental or medical office procedures
• instruct patient in use of supportive device
• instruct patients in methods to improve functional activities
• inventory medical supplies or instruments
• lift or transport ill or injured patients
• maintain dental or medical records
• observe patient condition
• position patient for therapy
• prepare medical treatment room
• prepare patients for tests, therapy, or treatments
• set up patient care equipment
• take vital signs
• use clinical sterilizing technique
• use massage therapy procedures
• use respiratory equipment
• weigh patients
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses

Source: Occupational Information Network: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.

Tools and Technology

Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants  View Detailed Report

Tools:

• Blood pressure cuff kits - Blood pressure measurement cuffs
• Canes or cane accessories - Walking canes
• Clinical hydraulic lifts or accessories - Hydraulic lifts
• Clinical trapeze bars - Clinical trapeze traction bars
• Crutches or crutch accessories - Crutches

Technology:

• Calendar and scheduling software - Scheduling software
• Data base user interface and query software - Database software
• Medical software - Medical records software
• Word processing software - Word processing software

Source: Occupational Information Network: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants.

Education and Training

Occupation: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Postsecondary vocational award
Related Instructional Programs:

• Health Aide
• Nurse/Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/homeframe.asp?function=trainprov

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements

• Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians
• Athletic Trainers
• Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics
• Flight Attendants
• Home Health Aides
• Medical Assistants
• Physical Therapists
• Psychiatric Aides

Web Resources

Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides
Occupational and Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
Other Healthcare Support Occupations

• Caregiver, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society
• Home Health Aides, CareerZone
• Home Health Aides, California Occupational Guide
• Home Health Support Occupations, California Occupational Guide
• Licensed Practical Nurses, Job Futures
• Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates, Job Futures
• Nursing Aides and Orderlies, California Occupational Guide
• Nursing, Psychiatric, and Home Health Aides, Occupational Outlook Handbook

• Critical-Care Nurse, Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow
• Neuroscience Nurse, Nursing Spectrum
• Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Occupational Therapy Occupations, American Medical Association
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• Physical Therapy Aides and Assistants, California Occupational Guide
• Physical Therapy Occupations, American Medical Association

• Dental Assistant, American Dental Association
• Dental Assistants, CareerZone
• Dental Assistants, California Occupational Guide
• Dental Assistants, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Dental Assistants, Job Futures
• Dental Related Occupations, American Medical Association
• Massage Therapy, American Massage Therapy Association
• Medical Assistant, American Medical Association
• Medical Assistants, CareerZone
• Medical Assistants, California Occupational Guide
• Medical Assistants, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Medical Transcriptionists, Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Medical Transcriptionists, California Occupational Guide
• Pharmacy Aides, Occupational Outlook Handbook