In many cases, neither a high school diploma nor previous work
experience is necessary for a job as a nursing or psychiatric aide. A few
employers, however, require some training or experience. Hospitals may
require experience as a nursing aide or home health aide. Nursing homes
often hire inexperienced workers who must complete a minimum of 75
hours of mandatory training and pass a competency evaluation program
within 4 months of employment. Aides who complete the program are
placed on the State registry of nursing aides. Some States require
psychiatric aides to complete a formal training program.

These occupations can offer individuals an entry into the world of work.
The flexibility of night and weekend hours also provides high school and
college students a chance to work during the school year.

Nursing aide training is offered in high schools, vocational-technical centers, some nursing homes, and community colleges. Courses cover body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, communication skills, and resident rights. Personal care skills such as how to help patients bathe, eat, and groom are also taught.

Some facilities, other than nursing homes, provide classroom instruction
for newly hired aides, while others rely exclusively on informal
on-the-job instruction from a licensed nurse or an experienced aide.
Such training may last several days to a few months. From time to time,
aides may also attend lectures, workshops, and in-service training.

The Federal Government has enacted guidelines for home health aides
whose employers receive reimbursement from Medicare. Federal law
requires home health aides to pass a competency test covering 12
areas: Communication skills; documentation of patient status and care provided; reading and recording vital signs; basic infection control
procedures; basic body functions; maintenance of a healthy environment; emergency procedures; physical, emotional, and developmental
characteristics of patients; personal hygiene and grooming; safe
transfer techniques; normal range of motion and positioning; and
basic nutrition.

A home health aide may take training before taking the competency
test. Federal law suggests at least 75 hours of classroom and practical
training supervised by a registered nurse. Training and testing programs
may be offered by the employing agency, but must meet the standards
of the Health Care Financing Administration. Training programs vary
depending upon State regulations.

Applicants should be healthy, tactful, patient, understanding, emotionally
stable, dependable, and have a desire to help people. They should also
be able to work as part of a team, have good communication skills, and
be willing to perform repetitive, routine tasks.

Opportunities for advancement within these occupations are limited. To
enter other health occupations, aides generally need additional formal
training. Some employers and unions provide opportunities by
simplifying the educational paths to advancement. Experience as an aide
can also help individuals decide whether to pursue a career in the health
care field.

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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.