Nursing Assistant

Nursing Assistant completes 25 task examples that represent typical assignments and expected outcomes. The entries show how to prioritize, what to document and common pitfalls. Each one shows where we found it, and comes with an AI prompt you can copy and use straight away.

25evidenced tasks
25ready prompts
8tools of the trade
31-1131.00O*NET-SOC code
1,448,910hold this job (US, BLS 2025)
$42,260median pay/yr (US)
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What it pays

Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.

Half of all Nursing Assistants in the U.S. earn more than $42,260 a year — the middle 80% land between $33,940 and $51,980. About 1.4 million people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Nursing Assistants”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$42,260typical pay / year
1.4 millionpeople in this work
$51,980+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
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The work, task by task

These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.

Move2

Lift and move patients safely

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Assist Mrs. Alvarez with a two-person transfer from bed to chair using the gait belt and sliding board,…
Assist Mrs. Alvarez with a two-person transfer from bed to chair using the gait belt and sliding board, confirm pain level and weight-bearing status, explain each step to her, and document the transfer in the patient record before leaving her room.
The tools that do the workEpicjob descriptionsO*NET

Move patients

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Help Mrs. Patel reposition from bed to wheelchair using a mechanical lift because of her weight and limited…
Help Mrs. Patel reposition from bed to wheelchair using a mechanical lift because of her weight and limited mobility, confirm consent and lift checklist, communicate with the nurse during the move, then update her mobility status in the care record.
The tools that do the workEpicESCOWikipedia
Care2

Feed patients

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Offer Mr. Thompson his morning breakfast, check his swallowing precautions and diet order, feed him slowly…
Offer Mr. Thompson his morning breakfast, check his swallowing precautions and diet order, feed him slowly while sitting upright, note any coughing or refusal, and record intake, appetite, and concerns in his chart when finished.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHESCOO*NET

Bathe patients

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Bathe Mr. Rivera at 08:00: explain the steps, check skin for pressure areas or changes, use gentle soap and…
Bathe Mr. Rivera at 08:00: explain the steps, check skin for pressure areas or changes, use gentle soap and warm water, keep him covered for dignity, dry and lotion pressure points, dress him and record skin findings and time in his chart.
The tools that do the workEpicESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
Fixing1

Prepare or serve food trays.

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Assemble and deliver lunch trays on Ward B, check each patient’s diet order and allergies before serving,…
Assemble and deliver lunch trays on Ward B, check each patient’s diet order and allergies before serving, label trays with patient names and meal type, remove any contraindicated items, and log tray delivery and refusals in the chart.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptionsO*NET
Analysing1

Perform basic nursing procedures

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Perform basic nursing procedures for Mrs. Lee during morning round: take vital signs, check oxygen saturation…
Perform basic nursing procedures for Mrs. Lee during morning round: take vital signs, check oxygen saturation and capillary refill, assist with repositioning, report any abnormal findings to the nurse in charge and update her record with measurements and times.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHESCOO*NETWikipedia
The daily work19

Educate family members on emergency procedures

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Teach Priya and Mark, family of room 412, the emergency call procedures, where the call button is, how to…
Teach Priya and Mark, family of room 412, the emergency call procedures, where the call button is, how to safely evacuate the patient and when to leave the room, role-play the steps until they can repeat them without prompting.
The tools that do the workFaceTimejob descriptions

Update and maintain health records

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Review Mrs. Alvarez's daily notes and update her chart with today's vital signs, intake and output, wound…
Review Mrs. Alvarez's daily notes and update her chart with today's vital signs, intake and output, wound care entries, and any family reports, flag missing consent forms for the nurse before end of shift.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptions

Assist individuals with activities of daily living (ADLs)

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Help Mr. Johnson with bathing, dressing, toileting and mobility this morning, explain each step before doing…
Help Mr. Johnson with bathing, dressing, toileting and mobility this morning, explain each step before doing it, encourage him to do what he can, note assistance level and any skin changes in his progress notes.
The tools that do the workHealth information databaseWikipedia

Demonstrate ability and competence before expanded responsibilities

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Demonstrate the catheter care and safe transfer technique to Sara and the charge nurse, perform the task…
Demonstrate the catheter care and safe transfer technique to Sara and the charge nurse, perform the task under supervision, accept corrective feedback, and request sign-off on competence in the training log.
The tools that do the workHealth information databaseWikipedia

Follow delegated scope of care from licensed professionals

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Follow the delegated wound dressing schedule from Nurse Patel exactly: confirm dressing supplies, perform…
Follow the delegated wound dressing schedule from Nurse Patel exactly: confirm dressing supplies, perform hand hygiene, change dressing, report pain or drainage, and document details in the patient's chart before handing back to the nurse.
The tools that do the workEpicWikipedia

Change linens

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Change Mr. Lee's bed linens while he is in the wheelchair: explain each step to him, maintain privacy, check…
Change Mr. Lee's bed linens while he is in the wheelchair: explain each step to him, maintain privacy, check skin for pressure injuries, replace linens with clean fitted sheet and draw sheet, and record completion in the care log.
The tools that do the workMedical procedure codingESCO

Communicate patient concerns to healthcare team

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Report Mrs. Alvarez's shortness of breath, oxygen saturation drop to 88% on room air, and increased…
Report Mrs. Alvarez's shortness of breath, oxygen saturation drop to 88% on room air, and increased respiratory rate to the charge nurse and Dr. Patel now, document the report in the patient chart, and request rapid assessment and order review.
The tools that do the workEpicjob descriptionsWikipedia

Offer compassion and patience during care

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Sit with Mr. Johnson during his morning bath, speak calmly about his fears, hold his hand between tasks,…
Sit with Mr. Johnson during his morning bath, speak calmly about his fears, hold his hand between tasks, reassure him you will call the nurse for pain relief if needed, and note any change in mood or comfort level for the nurse at shift handover.
The tools that do the workFaceTimejob descriptionsWikipedia

Provide bedside care under supervision

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Assist the registered nurse with bathing, repositioning, and toileting for Mrs. Khan, follow the care plan…
Assist the registered nurse with bathing, repositioning, and toileting for Mrs. Khan, follow the care plan for transfers and fall precautions, report any new wounds or changes in vitals immediately, and record interventions in the patient chart.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptionsWikipedia

Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.

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Respond to room 412 call bell within two minutes, assess whether the patient needs toileting, pain relief, or…
Respond to room 412 call bell within two minutes, assess whether the patient needs toileting, pain relief, or an urgent nurse assessment, provide immediate basic help if safe, and log the call reason and action taken in the unit log.
The tools that do the workHealth information databaseO*NET

Record height or weight of patients.

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Measure and record Mr. Lee's height and weight during morning vitals, verify measurements against last week's…
Measure and record Mr. Lee's height and weight during morning vitals, verify measurements against last week's chart, flag a weight change of more than two kilograms to the nurse, and enter the values into the patient record.
The tools that do the workEpicO*NET

Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.

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Restock the medroom by replacing dressing packs, sterile trays, and IV start kits from central supply, update…
Restock the medroom by replacing dressing packs, sterile trays, and IV start kits from central supply, update the unit inventory sheet, remove expired items, and notify the charge nurse if any critical supplies fall below par level.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET

Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.

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Collect urine, stool, or sputum specimens from Mr. Hernandez this morning, label each container with full…
Collect urine, stool, or sputum specimens from Mr. Hernandez this morning, label each container with full name, DOB and time, follow biohazard transport procedure, complete the specimen log and notify the lab tech if sample quality is poor or delayed.
The tools that do the workEpicO*NET

Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.

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Transport the three labelled blood tubes and the medication refill to Pharmacy on the second floor now, sign…
Transport the three labelled blood tubes and the medication refill to Pharmacy on the second floor now, sign the facility chain-of-custody sheet, hand them to Pharmacy lead Angela Ruiz and return the signed receipt to the patient chart.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHO*NET

Monitor patient vital signs and health status

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Obtain and record Mr. Patel’s vital signs every four hours starting at 0800 — temperature, pulse,…
Obtain and record Mr. Patel’s vital signs every four hours starting at 0800 — temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation — escalate to the nurse and note any trends if blood pressure falls below 100/60 or SpO2 below 92%.
The tools that do the workGE Healthcare Centricity EMRjob descriptions

Maintain a clean and sanitized environment

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Clean and disinfect Room 412 between discharges: remove soiled linens, wipe high-touch surfaces with approved…
Clean and disinfect Room 412 between discharges: remove soiled linens, wipe high-touch surfaces with approved disinfectant, replace supplies, document completion on the unit cleaning log and inform charge nurse if any supplies are missing or room damage noted.
The tools that do the workHealth information databasejob descriptions

Monitor oxygen supply and medical equipment

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Check oxygen cylinders and concentrator settings for Mrs. Lee at 0900: confirm flow rate, tank pressure,…
Check oxygen cylinders and concentrator settings for Mrs. Lee at 0900: confirm flow rate, tank pressure, nasal cannula fit, and alarm function; replace empty cylinder, document equipment status, and call respiratory therapist if alarms persist or settings are uncertain.
The tools that do the workEpicjob descriptions

Document patient conditions and care provided

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Document today’s care for Mr. Owens: morning hygiene, meals offered and intake volume, wound dressing…
Document today’s care for Mr. Owens: morning hygiene, meals offered and intake volume, wound dressing changes, mobility assistance, and current vital signs; sign entry with your initials and notify the nurse of any new pain reports or changes in mental status.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptions

Medical condition coding

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Finish the ward’s medical condition coding for Mr. Alvarez: confirm current diagnoses, update the problem…
Finish the ward’s medical condition coding for Mr. Alvarez: confirm current diagnoses, update the problem list with onset dates and severity, and flag coding changes for the nurse manager to review at shift handover.
The tools that do the workMedical condition codingO*NET

Says who?

These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.

O*NET 31-1131.00BLS pay surveyBLS OEWS 2025UK NOS IMPHS104UK NOS SFHSS13UK NOS LANRVN18WikipediaESCOallnursingschools.cominterimhealthcare.comwgu.eduwhat people in this job say

Activities this job lives in

The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.

bathingshoweringnursing

The logs, files & records this job keeps

Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.

inventorymedical procedure codingmedical condition coding

Related careers

Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.

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