Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants help transport patients in hospitals or residents of nursing homes.

Quick Facts: Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
2010 Median Pay	$24,010 per year $11.54 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Postsecondary non-degree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	1,505,300
Job Outlook, 2010-20	20% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	302,000

What Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants Do

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

Work Environment

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants are frequently active, visiting patients and residents and helping move, reposition, or lift them. Because of this, they have a relatively high rate of on-the-job injury.

How to Become a Nursing Aide, Orderly, or Attendant

Nursing aides and attendants typically need a postsecondary certificate or award and must pass their state’s competency exam. Orderlies generally have at least a high school diploma.

Pay

The median annual wage for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants was $24,010 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Because of the growing elderly population, many nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants will be needed in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants with similar occupations.

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What Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants Do About this section

Nursing aides assist patients with activities of daily living like eating and bathing.

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.

Duties

Nursing aides, sometimes called nursing attendants or nursing assistants, provide basic care and help with basic living activities. 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 aides and attendants may also dispense medication, depending on their training level and the state in which they work.

In nursing homes, aides and attendants are often the principal caregivers. They have more contact with residents than other members of the staff. Because some residents stay in a nursing home for months or years, aides and attendants may develop close, caring relationships with their patients.

Orderlies may do some of the same tasks as nursing aides and attendants, although they do not usually provide healthcare services. They typically do the following:

Transport patients, such as taking a hospital patient to an operating room
Clean equipment and facilities

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

Work Environment About this section

Orderlies are responsible for keeping hospital facilities clean and tidy.

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants held about 1.5 million jobs in 2010. The majority of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants work in nursing and residential care facilities. Others are employed in hospitals, home care, and hospices.

As shown below, more than half of all nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants worked in nursing and residential care facilities in 2010:

Nursing and residential care facilities	55%
Hospitals; state, local, and private	28
Home health care services	3
Employment services	2

The work of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants is strenuous. They spend much of their time on their feet as they take care of many patients or residents. They may also have to do unpleasant tasks, such as emptying bedpans and changing soiled sheets.

They wear uniforms to protect their clothing and to promote cleanliness.

Injuries

Because they frequently lift people and do other physically demanding tasks, on-the-job injuries are more common for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants than for most other occupations. They should be trained in how to properly lift and move patients, which can reduce the risk of injury.

Work Schedules

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

How to Become a Nursing Aide, Orderly, or Attendant About this section

Nursing aides should be personable and enjoy helping people.

Nursing aides and attendants typically need a postsecondary certificate or award. Orderlies generally have at least a high school diploma. Nursing aides must pass their state’s competency exam.

Education and Training

Nursing aides and attendants must earn a postsecondary certificate or award, in which they learn the basic principles of nursing and complete supervised clinical work. These programs are found in community colleges, vocational and technical schools, and in hospitals and nursing homes. Some high schools offer nursing aide programs.

Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma. Orderlies who are not involved in patient care may be trained on the job.

Certification

When they finish their state-required education, nursing aides and attendants take a competency exam. Passing this exam allows them to use state-specific titles. In some states, a nursing aide or attendant is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but titles vary from state to state.

Nursing aides and attendants who have passed the exam are placed on a state registry. In many states, nursing aides and attendants 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 your state’s board of nursing or health, for more information.

In some states, nursing aides and attendants can get additional credentials beyond a CNA, such as becoming a Certified Medication Assistant (CMA). As a CMA, they can give medications.

Important Qualities

Compassion. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants provide 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 aides, orderlies, and attendants must be patient to provide quality care.

Speaking skills. Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants must be able to communicate effectively to address patients’ or residents’ concerns. They also need to relay patients’ statuses to other healthcare workers.

Pay About this section

Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants

Median annual wages, May 2010

Total, All Occupations: $33,840
Healthcare Support Occupations: $24,760
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants: $24,010

The median annual wage for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants was $24,010 in May 2010. 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 $17,790, and the top 10 percent earned more than $34,580.

Most nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants 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 About this section

Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Healthcare Support Occupations: 34%
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants: 20%
Total, All Occupations: 14%

Employment of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.

Because of the growing elderly population, many nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants will be needed in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. Growth in the demand for healthcare services should lead to increased opportunities for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants in other industries as well, such as hospitals and clinics.

Demand for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants may be constrained, however, by the fact that many nursing homes rely on government funding, which tends to increase slower than the cost of patient care.

Job Prospects

Job prospects for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants with formal training should be excellent, particularly in long-term care facilities. Because of the emotional and physical demands of this occupation, many nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants choose to leave the profession to get more training or another job. This creates opportunities for jobseekers who want to become nursing aides.

Employment projections data for nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants	31-1012	1,505,300	1,807,200	20	302,000	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Home Health and Personal Care Aides	Home health and personal care aides help people who are disabled, chronically ill, or cognitively impaired. They also help older adults who may need assistance. They help with activities such as bathing and dressing, and they provide services such as light housekeeping. 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.	Less than high school	$20,170
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (known as LPNs or LVNs, depending on the state in which they work) provide basic nursing care. They work under the direction of registered nurses and doctors.	Postsecondary non-degree award	$40,380
Medical Assistants	Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.	High school diploma or equivalent	$28,860
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides	Occupational therapy assistants and aides work under the direction of occupational therapists in treating patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.	See How to Become One	$47,490
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides	Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities. The two occupations are related, but technicians typically provide therapeutic care, and aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe, clean environment.	See How to Become One	$26,880
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides	Physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides work under the direction of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries regain movement and manage pain.	See How to Become One	$37,710
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.	Associate’s degree	$64,690