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 What They Do: Nursing assistants help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities.

 Work Environment: Nursing assistants and orderlies work in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals. They are frequently physically active and may need to help lift or move patients.

 How to Become One: Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program and must pass their state’s competency exam to become certified. Orderlies generally have at least a high school diploma.

 Salary: The median annual wage for nursing assistants is $29,660. The median annual wage for orderlies is $28,980.

 Job Outlook: Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 8 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to help care for an increasing number of older patients.

 Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of nursing assistants and orderlies with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as a nursing assistant or orderly with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 Nursing Assistant Jobs

• Certified Nursing Assistant - CNA (Utica Ridge) - ManorCare Health Services - Davenport, IA

  Description HCR ManorCare provides a range of services, including skilled nursing care, assisted ... The CN A - Certified Nursing Assistant will provide basic nursing care to patients and residents ...

• Certified Nursing Assistant Acute MedSurgical A - CHRISTUS Health - San Antonio, TX

  Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse /licensed Nurse , this position will assist with routine and repetitive patient care activities on a nursing unit. This position also performs ...

• Nursing Assistant Certified PRN Neuroscience - UCHealth - Lakewood, CO

  Certified Nurse Asst * Basic Life Support * Other information: Minimum Required Education: High School diploma or GED. Required Licensure/Certification: Certified as a Nursing Assistant (CN A ). Basic ...

See all Nursing Assistant jobs

Top 3 Nursing Aide Jobs

• Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) Majestic at Memphis Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center - Caring Health - Memphis, TN

  ... Aides who can compliment our current Nursing Staff. The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is responsible for providing assistance to the professional staff. Delivers direct care to patients (bathing ...

• State Tested Nursing Aide (STNA) - All Shifts - ShiftMed - Bowling Green, OH

  When you join the ShiftMed team, we provide you with the list of shifts at local nursing homes and skilled facilities and you get decide what shifts fit your schedule and pay needs all through our ...

• Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) Monument Rehabilitation and Care Center - Caring Health - Scottsbluff, NE

  We are currently looking for Certified Nurses Aides who can compliment our current Nursing Staff ... The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is responsible for providing assistance to the professional ...

See all Nursing Aide jobs

 What Nursing Assistants and Orderlies Do[About this section] [To Top]

Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.

Duties of Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Nursing assistants provide basic care and help with activities of daily living. They typically do the following:

• Clean and bathe patients or residents
• Help patients use the toilet and dress
• Turn, reposition, and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs
• Listen to and record patients' health concerns and report that information to nurses
• Measure patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature
• Serve meals and help patients eat

Some nursing assistants also may dispense medication, depending on their training level and the state in which they work.

In nursing homes and residential care facilities, nursing assistants are often the principal caregivers. They have more contact with residents than other members of the staff. Nursing assistants often develop close relationships with their patients because some residents stay in a nursing home for months or years.

Orderlies typically do the following:

• Help patients to move around the facility, by doing such tasks as pushing wheelchairs
• Clean equipment and facilities
• Change linens
• Stock supplies

Nursing assistants and orderlies work as part of a healthcare team under the supervision of licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses.

 Work Environment for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies[About this section] [To Top]

Nursing assistants hold about 1.5 million jobs. The largest employers of nursing assistants are as follows:

Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	37%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	27%
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	11%
Home healthcare services	5%
Government	4%

Orderlies hold about 50,600 jobs. The largest employers of orderlies are as follows:

Hospitals; state, local, and private	78%
Ambulatory healthcare services	5%
Government	2%

The work of nursing assistants and orderlies may be strenuous. They spend much of their time on their feet as they care for patients.

Injuries and Illnesses for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Nursing assistants and orderlies have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. These workers frequently move patients and have other physically demanding tasks. They typically get training in how to properly lift people, which can reduce the risk of injuries.

Nursing Assistant and Orderly Work Schedules

Although most nursing assistants and orderlies work full time, some work part time. Because nursing and residential care facilities and hospitals provide care at all hours, nursing assistants and orderlies may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

 How to Become a Nursing Assistant or Orderly[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies near you!

Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program and must pass their state's competency exam. Orderlies generally have at least a high school diploma.

 Education and Training for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program in which they learn the basic principles of nursing and complete supervised clinical work. These programs are found in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.

In addition, nursing assistants typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training to learn about their specific employer's policies and procedures.

Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma and receive a short period of on-the-job training.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

After completing a state-approved education program, nursing assistants take a competency exam. Passing this exam allows them to use state-specific titles. In some states, a nursing assistant or aide is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but titles vary from state to state.

Nursing assistants who have passed the competency exam are placed on a state registry. They must be on the state registry to work in a nursing home.

Some states have other requirements as well, such as continuing education and a criminal background check. Check with state boards of nursing or health for more information.

In some states, nursing assistants can earn additional credentials, such as becoming a Certified Medication Assistant (CMA). As a CMA, they can give medications.

Orderlies do not need a license, however, many jobs require a basic life support (BLS) certification, which shows they are trained to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Important Qualities for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Communication skills. Nursing assistants and orderlies must communicate effectively to address patients' or residents' concerns. They also need to relay important information to other healthcare workers.

Compassion. Nursing assistants and orderlies assist and care for the sick, injured, and elderly. Doing so requires a compassionate and empathetic attitude.

Patience. The routine tasks of cleaning, feeding, and bathing patients or residents can be stressful. Nursing assistants and orderlies must have patience to complete these tasks.

Physical stamina. Nursing assistants and orderlies spend much of their time on their feet. They should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting or moving patients.

 Nursing Assistant and Orderly Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

The median annual wage for nursing assistants is $29,660. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $40,620.

The median annual wage for orderlies is $28,980. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,590, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $42,860.

The median annual wages for nursing assistants in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Government	$35,500
Hospitals; state, local, and private	$31,120
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	$28,910
Home healthcare services	$28,600
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	$28,590

The median annual wages for orderlies in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Ambulatory healthcare services	$31,950
Government	$30,740
Hospitals; state, local, and private	$29,050
Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly	$28,350
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)	$24,300

Most nursing assistants and orderlies work full time. Because nursing homes and hospitals provide care at all hours, nursing aides and orderlies may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

 Job Outlook for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies[About this section] [To Top]

Employment of nursing assistants is projected to grow 8 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of orderlies is projected to grow 5 percent over the next ten years, faster than the average for all occupations.

As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to assist and care for elderly patients in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Older people are more likely than younger people to have disorders such as dementia, or to live with chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. More nursing assistants will be needed to care for patients with these conditions.

Demand for nursing assistants may be constrained by the fact that many nursing homes rely on government funding. Cuts to programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, may affect patients' ability to pay for nursing home care. In addition, patient preferences and shifts in federal and state funding are increasing the demand for home and community-based long-term care, which should lead to increased opportunities for nursing assistants working in home health and community rehabilitation services.

See all nursing jobs.

Job Prospects for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

About 174,000 openings for nursing assistants and 5,600 openings for orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupations, often because of their low pay and high emotional and physical demands.

Employment projections data for Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, 2019-29

Occupational Title	Employment, 2019	Projected Employment, 2029	Change, 2019-29
			Percent	Numeric
Nursing assistants and orderlies	1,579,100	1,698,600	8	119,500
Nursing assistants	1,528,500	1,645,500	8	116,900
Orderlies	50,600	53,100	5	2,500

 Careers Related to Nursing Assistants and Orderlies[About this section] [To Top]

Dental Assistants

Dental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists' offices where they work.

Home Health Aides

Home health aides and personal care aides help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairment by assisting in their daily living activities. They often help older adults who need assistance. In some states, home health aides may be able to give a client medication or check the client's vital signs under the direction of a nurse or other healthcare practitioner.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic nursing care. They work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors.

Medical Assistants

Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.

Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides

Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities. Both assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists.

Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides

Physical therapist assistants, sometimes called PTAs, and physical therapist aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain.

Psychiatric Technicians and Aides

Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. Technicians typically provide therapeutic care and monitor their patients' conditions. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers care for animals by performing routine tasks under the supervision of scientists, veterinarians, and veterinary technologists and technicians.

 More Nursing Assistant and Orderly Information

For more information about nursing assistants and orderlies, visit

National Network of Career Nursing Assistants 

For more information about state requirements, visit

National Council of State Boards of Nursing