Social ServiceISCO 5321
Nurse assistant
A nurse assistant is a person who works within a nursing team and supports patients in their day-to-day care, both physically and emotionally.
Check yourself in a minute: nurse assistant
Rate 5 of the 34 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
respond to changing situations in health care
provide professional care in nursing
empathise with the healthcare user
provide basic support to patients
identify abnormalities
About nurse assistant
The nursing assistant applies basic nursing principles: helping a patient wash, dress, eat and change position, keeping the bed clean and comfortable, and supporting them when they move about. They monitor patients' basic parameters, among them pulse, breathing, temperature, blood pressure and body weight, and report any change to the nurse. They work with people of all age groups, across nursing, clinical care and social care.
Care is person-centred: the assistant asks what matters to the patient and builds the help around that rather than around a routine. They also talk with the patient's family and friends, who need support and information too.
Healthcare legislation and the quality standards of healthcare practice apply throughout, and nursing science is the knowledge base. Nursing assistant job requirements differ from country to country, since the qualification, its length and whether the role is registered are set by national rules and by the employer.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (34)
hygiene in a health care settinghygiene in a health care settingThe procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipmen...health care legislationhealth care legislationThe patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.disability caredisability careThe specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.person centred careperson centred careThe person centered care approach involves treating patients as equal partners in the planning and developing of care, patients and their needs being at the core of all decisions.nursing principlesnursing principlesThe ethics, the codes of conduct, the philosophy of nursing, the philosophy of human rights and nursing theories and concepts.nursing sciencenursing scienceThe factors that influence human health and the therapeutic interventions that promote health with the purpose to improve individual`s mental and physical health.first aidfirst aidThe emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.provide professional care in nursingprovide professional care in nursingProvide professional care, adequate to the health and nursing care needs of the individuals, families and groups, taking into account the scientific developments, as well as the quality and safety req...empathise with the healthcare userempathise with the healthcare userUnderstand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence...provide basic support to patientsprovide basic support to patientsSupport patients and citizens with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, comfort, mobilisation and feeding needs.identify abnormalitiesidentify abnormalitiesIdentify what is normal and abnormal concerning the well-being of patients, through experience and instruction, reporting to the nurses what is abnormal.implement fundamentals of nursingimplement fundamentals of nursingImplement the nursing theoretical and methodological fundamentals and principles, basic nursing interventions on scientific evidence and the resources available.support nursessupport nursesSupport nurses with the preparation and delivery of diagnostic and treatment interventions.communicate with nursing staffcommunicate with nursing staffCommunicate with nurses and other health professionals ensuring the delivery of quality and safe patient care.plan nursing careplan nursing carePlan care, defining nursing objectives, deciding on nursing measures to be taken, paying attention to health education and preventative measures and ensuring continuity and fullness of care with the a...communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.apply person-centred careapply person-centred careTreat individuals as partners in planning, developing and assessing care, to make sure it is appropriate for their needs. Put them and their caregivers at the heart of all decisions.advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...apply nursing care in long-term careapply nursing care in long-term careEnable the promotion and the development of nursing care in long term care, co-morbidity and in situations of dependency in order to maintain individuals’ personal autonomy and relationships with the ...solve problems in healthcaresolve problems in healthcareCarry out actions, by previously identifying and analysing problems, that facilitate seeking the most beneficial solution for the patient, the family and the community, reaching objectives, improving ...address problems criticallyaddress problems criticallyIdentify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and a...work with nursing staffwork with nursing staffWork together with nurses and other health professionals in supporting the delivery of basic patient care.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...monitor basic patients signsmonitor basic patients signsMonitor and analyse basic patient vital signs as vital signs of heart, respiration, and blood pressure. Take action by reporting them to the nurse.apply sustainability principles in health careapply sustainability principles in health careTake into account the sustainability principles in healthcare and strive for the rational use of resources.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.implement nursing careimplement nursing careImplement nursing care when treating patients in order to improve their health situation. Carry out advanced treatment, diagnostic and invasive interventions as related to the field of specialisation.
Optional (23) — show
safe management of medicinessafe management of medicinesThe methods and principles required to handle, store and prescribe medication with the aim of improving the safety and quality of medication usage.general medicinegeneral medicineGeneral medicine is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.human physiologyhuman physiologyThe science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.adolescence medicineadolescence medicineTopics related to the adolescent period of development such as sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, contraception, substance abuse, menstrual disorders, acnee, eating disorders.geriatricsgeriatricsGeriatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.pharmacologypharmacologyPharmacology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.disability typesdisability typesThe nature and types of disabilities affecting the human beings such as physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional or developmental and the specific needs and access requirements of disabled peop...infection controlinfection controlThe routes of transmission and methods of preventing spread of common and important infecting organisms together with the methods available for sterilisation and disinfection of pathogenic organisms i...paediatricspaediatricsPaediatrics is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.resuscitationresuscitationThe emergency procedure applied to individuals with no pulse to restore them to consciousness.acute careacute careThe type of care administered to patients for a brief and critical sequence of illness such as trauma or recovery from surgery.primary careprimary careThe regular, routine medical care provided to patients, usually performed by a physician or a nurse, that leads to a decision on the following course of action required to solve the health problem of ...human anatomyhuman anatomyThe dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and ...innovation in nursinginnovation in nursingThe methods and tools used to bring about innovative changes and quality improvement in the nursing field.palliative carepalliative careThe methods of pain relief and quality of life improvement for the patients with serious illnesses.pathologypathologyThe components of a disease, the cause, mechanisms of development, morphologic changes, and the clinical consequences of those changes.promote a positive image of nursingpromote a positive image of nursingPresent and preserve a positive image of nursing in specific environments of the healthcare and educational spectra.deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.follow-up patients with heart attackfollow-up patients with heart attackEnsure follow-up care following a heart attack, such as examining the patient at regular intervals.perform venous cannulationperform venous cannulationPlace a cannula inside the patient's vein to provide venous access. It allows many practices such as sampling of blood, administration of fluids, medications, parenteral nutrition, and chemotherapy.perform diagnostic testing for allergiesperform diagnostic testing for allergiesPerform diagnostic testing for allergies to drugs, vaccines, or other substances used in medicinal treatment.use electronic health records in nursinguse electronic health records in nursingUse electronic health records to document nursing assessment, diagnosis, interventions and outcomes based on comparable nursing classification systems and nursing taxonomy.distribute meals to patientsdistribute meals to patientsProvide meals to patients or residents, following the dietary requirements and medical prescriptions.
Related Occupations
Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a nurse assistant do?
Nurse assistants provide basic patient care under direction of nursing staff. They perform duties such as feed, bathe, dress, groom, move patients or change linens and may transfer or transport patients.
What skills does a nurse assistant need?
A nurse assistant needs 34 essential skills, including hygiene in a health care setting, health care legislation, disability care, person centred care, nursing principles.
Will AI replace nurse assistant jobs?
The AI disruption score for nurse assistant is 10/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: comply with legislation related to health care, safe management of medicines, use electronic health records in nursing. Most resilient: empathise with the healthcare user, apply person-centred care, resuscitation.
AI Replacement Risk
10/ 100
Very Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
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