Nursing Aides

Job Skills

Besides having a strong desire to help people, nursing aides need to be compassionate, tactful, and understanding. They should be willing to perform repetitive tasks, have good interpersonal communication skills, and be able to work in a team. They also need to be in good health, as some States require tests for tuberculosis and other diseases.

Income

In 2002, nursing aides earned a median hourly wage of $9.59. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10 percent, who earned less than $6.98, and the highest 10 percent, who earned more than $13.54. The highest hourly wage was found in the employment services industry, and the lowest was found in community care facilities for the elderly.

Training and Education

Often it is not necessary to have a high school diploma or previous work experience to obtain a job as a nursing aide. Some hospitals hire inexperienced workers with the requirement that they complete 75 hours of training and pass an evaluation within 4 months of employment. When aides pass the certification are added to the State registry of nursing aides. Nursing aide training can be found in high schools, vocational-technical centers, nursing care facilities, and community colleges.

Employment

Out of the nearly 2 million nursing, psychiatric, and home health aide jobs in 2002, about 1.4 million people were employed as nursing aides.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of nursing aides is expected to increase faster than the average because of an growing focus on rehabilitation and the needs of the elderly population. Pressure to quickly transfer patients out of hospitals will increase admissions to nursing care facilities. As more advanced medical technology keeps people alive longer, the demand for those who care for them will rise.

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