Nursing and psychiatric aides help care for physically or mentally ill,
injured, disabled, or infirm individuals confined to hospitals, nursing or
residential care facilities, and mental health settings. Home health and
personal care aides, whose duties are similar work in clients’ homes.

Nursing aides, also known as nursing assistants, geriatric aides,
unlicensed assistive personnel, or hospital attendants, perform routine
tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. They answer
patients' call bells, deliver messages, serve meals, make beds, and
help patients eat, dress, and bathe.

Aides may also provide skin care to patients; take temperatures, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure; and help patients get in and out of bed and walk. They may also escort patients to operating and examining rooms, keep patients’ rooms neat, set up equipment, or store and move supplies. Aides observe patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report any change to the nursing or medical staff.

Nursing aides employed in nursing homes are often the principal
caregivers, having far more contact with residents than other members of
the staff. Since some residents may stay in a nursing home for months or
even years, aides develop ongoing relationships with them and interact
with them in a positive, caring way.

Psychiatric aides are also known as mental health assistants and
psychiatric nursing assistants. They care for mentally impaired or
emotionally disturbed individuals. They work under a team that may
include psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers,
and therapists. In addition to helping patients dress, bathe, groom, and
eat, psychiatric aides socialize with them and lead them in educational
and recreational activities. Psychiatric aides may play games such as
cards with the patients, watch television with them, or participate in
group activities such as sports or field trips. They observe patients and
report any physical or behavioral signs which might be important for the
professional staff to know. They accompany patients to and from wards
for examination and treatment. Because they have the closest contact
with patients, psychiatric aides have a great deal of influence on their
outlook and treatment.

Home health aides help elderly, convalescent, or disabled persons live
in their own homes instead of in a health facility. Under the direction of
nursing or medical staff, they provide health-related services, such as administering oral medications. Like nursing aides, home health aides
may check pulse, temperature, and respiration; help with simple
prescribed exercises; keep patients' rooms neat; and help patients
move from bed, bathe, dress, and groom. Occasionally, they change
nonsterile dressings, give massages and alcohol rubs, or assist with
braces and artificial limbs. Experienced home health aides also may assist with medical equipment such as ventilators, which help patients breathe.

Most home health aides work with elderly or disabled persons who
need more extensive care than family or friends can provide. Some help discharged hospital patients who have relatively short-term needs.

In home healthcare agencies, a registered nurse, physical therapist,
or social worker usually assigns specific duties and supervises home
health aides. Aides keep records of services performed and patients'
condition and progress. They report changes in patients' conditions to
the supervisor or case manager.

Working Conditions & Employment Training & Advancement Job Outlook & Earnings Nursing Resources

PLEASE NOTE: The material in this publication is within the public domain and has been reprinted here from the Occupational Outlook Handbook (Division of Occupational Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20212. Phone: (202) 691-5700. Fax: (202) 691-5745. E-mail: oohinfo@bls.gov. To view other articles from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, please visit the BLS.