What does a nursing assistant do?
Nursing assistants are commonly employed in healthcare settings, ranging from community health centres to hospitals. They are also employed in other settings in which healthcare may be regularly required, such as residential aged care centres and disability housing. In all settings, they support nurses and other health, medical and allied health professionals by performing ancillary jobs, helping them with basic health needs and ensuring their dignity to participate in everyday activities. They also observe, identify and report on the condition of patients and collect health information for healthcare professionals to assess.
Nursing assistant skills and qualifications
Strong candidates often demonstrate compassion, attention to detail and teamwork skills, which may be important for success in this role. Time management and communication skills are also valuable competencies that set top candidates apart. Examples of the technical skills and qualifications that may make a job candidate stand out are:
- a first aid certificate
- basic medical knowledge, such as infection control and records management
- relevant worker screening checks, such as an NDIS Worker Check
- knowledge of occupational health and safety
- patient care assistance training, such as a Certificate III in Individual Support or Health Care Assistant.
Nursing assistant experience requirements
Prior professional experience working as a nursing assistant is not a prerequisite to work in this role. You may consider previous personal experience, such as caring for relatives or volunteering, as relevant for this role. You may also like to consider whether applicants show a commitment to a healthcare career, such as working towards or having obtained a relevant qualification. For example, a student enrolled in a disability or individual support vocational certificate or nursing degree may not have experience, but may gain practical skills in their course that are beneficial to the role.
Nursing assistant education and training requirements
Nursing assistants do not require a formal qualification to be employed. However, a Certificate III in Individual Support or Health Care Assistance is often preferred by employers as it teaches workers the basic skills required for the job. Basic health and medical certificates, such as Provide First Aid and Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certificates, are also useful for workers to be employed in healthcare settings.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a nursing assistant is not exactly what is required for your business, other job descriptions that may be relevant are:
Nursing assistant job description FAQs
What is the difference between a nurse and a nursing assistant?
A nurse is a vocational or tertiary-qualified role that involves clinical skills such as dispensing medication, injury and wound care, and management. A nursing assistant reports to nursing staff and works under their direction and guidance to conduct basic tasks that do not require autonomy or advanced knowledge.
What should a nursing assistant not do?
Nursing assistants cannot diagnose medical conditions or undertake complex clinical tasks. While they are required to observe patients and monitor their condition, they must report changes to healthcare or medical staff and only act on their instructions. They do not have the autonomy to make healthcare decisions themselves.
What is the most important quality for a nursing assistant?
A nursing assistant must maintain a patient’s dignity and privacy while supporting them in their well-being and lifestyle activities. A nurturing and compassionate attitude is highly essential to be able to achieve this and ensure they put the safety and comfort of the patient first.
How can you make your nursing assistant job description stand out?
Outlining your workplace culture can be useful to ensure that your values align with the candidate’s as well as to state the expectations you hold. For example, listing your organisation’s core values as well as perks and benefits can attract like-minded candidates who understand the type of work environment that you offer from their first day on the job.
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