Occupation information for

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Currently Employed: 752,300

Yearly Projected Openings: 36,920

Typical Hourly Wage: $16.82 - $23.26

Typical Annual Salary: $35,000 - $48,400

• Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
• Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
• Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
• Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave.
• Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
• Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
• Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
• Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
• Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
• Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics.

• Hypodermic needles
• Nebulizers or accessories
• Patient care beds or accessories for specialty care
• Patient stabilization or fall prevention devices or accessories
• Spirometers or its accessories or its supplies

• Calendar and scheduling software
• Medical software
• Office suite software
• Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software