Become a Nurse Aid

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WHAT IS A NURSE AIDE?

One of the most significant and far-reaching takeaways of health care reform in the past half-decade is the increased focus on patient-facing skills and competencies. The growing number of people who now have access to medical care thanks to President Obama’s health care law means that clinics, hospitals and care facilities are experiencing greater strain on medical personnel because of the increased demand.

While doctors and nurse practitioners receive essential education on the most up-to-date medical practices, clinicians’ skill sets tend to be strictly clinical, either diagnosing conditions, prescribing treatments and interpreting results to fine-tune individual patient plans. However, these professions often lack the personable touch that many patients need, especially in instances where an individual is navigating a new and frightening medical situation.

Nursing aides play an important role in the changing health care system, as they are instrumental in bridging the gap between patient and practitioners. They provide a valuable and often hands-on resource for individuals who need assistance not necessarily with the big-picture strategy of their overall treatment, but in managing day-to-day tasks that may prove challenging to some.

ARE ONLINE NURSING AIDE PROGRAMS FOR YOU?

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing an online nursing aide program.

The educational requirements for nursing aides are lower than those associated with doctors, nurse practitioners or registered nurses. Unlike these jobs, nursing aide positions typically do not mandate an extensive education in medicine or science, as job duties are more centered on working with patients directly to help with daily tasks such as washing and dressing than with planning and executing treatment.

As such, many nursing aide careers provide on-the-job training, requiring candidates to have a high school diploma or GED. Because of the nature of the interactions that nursing aides regularly encounter, emphasis is placed on a different skill set than would be needed by other nursing professions. In particular, communication skills are especially valuable. The vast majority of a nursing aide’s job will involve communicating with patients on some level, so these skills are essential. It is also a good idea to consider studying a foreign language such as Spanish, French or German to better meet the needs of a rapidly diversifying patient base.

In addition to meeting the educational requirements, most states require nursing aides to be licensed before they can practice.

WHAT DO ONLINE NURSING AIDE PROGRAM COURSES LOOK LIKE?

Some common courses include:

CPR and First Aid: Learn how to help patients during an emergency. This course may cover what to do in the event of choking, bleeding, shock, seizures, and more.

Intro to Health Sciences: This course may review the basics of how health care works – from science to business. And, you could learn how health care teams work together to get results.

Nurse Aide Skills: Find out what goes into serving diverse patient needs. You could learn basic nursing skills, ethics, and how to communicate with patients.

Nutrition: Discover the ins and outs of nutrition, and the role it plays in human health. You could learn how our nutritional needs change based on our behaviors and life stages.

NURSING AIDE POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS AND SALARIES

The diverse and wide-reaching nature of the medical profession means that, like doctors and nurses, nursing aides have a variety of settings in which they can practice. While many work in hard clinical settings such as hospitals, nursing aides can also be of great value in long-term care facilities and residential nursing homes.

NURSING ASSISTANT

These professionals provide a basic level of care for those in residential clinical facilities. Job duties often include assisting patients with basic tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating. This job tends to be more physical in nature than other nursing jobs, often requiring candidates to lift and move patients.

Median Salary: $28,530 per year

Job Growth Through 2028: 9% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: High school diploma

PERSONAL CARE AIDE

Like nursing assistants, personal care aides work closely with patients, often on a one-on-one basis. The key difference is that personal aides tend to work more frequently in nonclinical settings such as at a patient’s home. In addition to assisting with basic tasks, some personal care aides also provide their clients with companionship, fulfilling a social role as well as a clinical one.

Median Salary: $24,060 per year

Job Growth Through 2028: 36% (Much faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: High school diploma

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*https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_311.15.asp

Sources for school statistics is the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

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This is an offer for educational opportunities, not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The financial aid information on this site is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.

1 You must apply for a new loan each school year. This approval percentage is based on students with a Sallie Mae undergraduate loan in the 2018/19 school year who were approved when they returned in 2019/20. It does not include the denied applications of students who were ultimately approved in 2019/20.

2 This promotional benefit is provided at no cost to borrowers with new loans that disburse between May 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022. Borrowers are not eligible to activate the benefit until July 1, 2021. Borrowers who reside in, attend school in, or borrow for a student attending school in Maine are not eligible for this benefit. Chegg Study® offers expert Q&A where students can submit up to 20 questions per month. No cash value. Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit http://www.chegg.com/legal/smtermsandconditions for complete details. This offer expires one year after issuance.

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