# Nursing Assistants

> Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.

- Code: 31-1131.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 31-1131)
- Family: [Healthcare Support](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-31), one of its 20 occupations
- Tasks: 33 tasks (26 core and 7 supplemental)
- Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-1131.00
- JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/31-1131.00.json

## What the work is made of

1. Turn or reposition bedridden patients.  
   Core task · Task 19341 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
2. Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.  
   Core task · Task 19317 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
3. Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.  
   Core task · Task 19325 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
4. Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.  
   Core task · Task 19327 · Rated by 85 people who do the job, August 2020
5. 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.  
   Core task · Task 19331 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
6. Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.  
   Core task · Task 19324 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
7. Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.  
   Core task · Task 19334 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
8. Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.  
   Core task · Task 19336 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
9. Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.  
   Core task · Task 19342 · Rated by 85 people who do the job, August 2020
10. Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.  
   Core task · Task 19328 · Rated by 82 people who do the job, August 2020
11. Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.  
   Core task · Task 19346 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
12. Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.  
   Core task · Task 19339 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
13. Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.  
   Core task · Task 19323 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
14. Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.  
   Core task · Task 19333 · Rated by 85 people who do the job, August 2020
15. Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.  
   Core task · Task 19326 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
16. Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.  
   Core task · Task 19343 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
17. Prepare or serve food trays.  
   Core task · Task 19330 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
18. Change bed linens or make beds.  
   Core task · Task 19320 · Rated by 82 people who do the job, August 2020
19. Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.  
   Core task · Task 19344 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
20. Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.  
   Core task · Task 19335 · Rated by 85 people who do the job, August 2020
21. Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.  
   Core task · Task 19321 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
22. Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.  
   Core task · Task 19319 · Rated by 83 people who do the job, August 2020
23. Record height or weight of patients.  
   Core task · Task 19332 · Rated by 82 people who do the job, August 2020
24. Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.  
   Core task · Task 19340 · Rated by 82 people who do the job, August 2020
25. Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.  
   Core task · Task 19322 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
26. Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.  
   Core task · Task 19347 · Rated by 85 people who do the job, August 2020
27. Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19329 · Rated by 85 people who do the job, August 2020
28. 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.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19337 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
29. Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19316 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
30. Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19318 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020
31. Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19338 · Rated by 81 people who do the job, August 2020
32. Explain medical instructions to patients or family members.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19345 · Rated by 79 people who do the job, August 2020
33. Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.  
   Supplemental task · Task 19348 · Rated by 84 people who do the job, August 2020

## More in Healthcare Support

- [Dental Assistants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9091.00): 16 tasks
- [Endoscopy Technicians](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9099.02): 12 tasks
- [Healthcare Support Workers, All Other](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9099.00): no tasks listed
- [Home Health Aides](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-1121.00): 15 tasks
- [Massage Therapists](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9011.00): 14 tasks
- [Medical Assistants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9092.00): 20 tasks
- [Medical Equipment Preparers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9093.00): 15 tasks
- [Medical Transcriptionists](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9094.00): 15 tasks
- [Occupational Therapy Aides](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-2012.00): 15 tasks
- [Occupational Therapy Assistants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-2011.00): 22 tasks
- [Orderlies](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-1132.00): 22 tasks
- [Personal Care Aides](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-1122.00): 11 tasks
- [Pharmacy Aides](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9095.00): 14 tasks
- [Phlebotomists](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9097.00): 23 tasks
- [Physical Therapist Aides](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-2022.00): 19 tasks
- [Physical Therapist Assistants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-2021.00): 21 tasks
- [Psychiatric Aides](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-1133.00): 17 tasks
- [Speech-Language Pathology Assistants](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9099.01): 11 tasks
- [Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/31-9096.00): 28 tasks

## Where this comes from

Quoted from O*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0: free to copy and reuse, with credit. Nothing on this page is written by the Org.AI Foundation.