Looking for a job in the health care field can reap many rewards. With the world’s population growing at a steadily alarming rate, the jobs that need to be done at the hospital have become more detailed and specific, making registered nurses and licensed practical nurses wish for more hours in a day to finish these tasks. This is where the nursing assistant career comes in. A nursing assistant is basically the eyes and ears of the registered nurse. They are patient advocates who ensure that the patient gets the best treatment possible in the hospitals so the patients can leave as soon as possible. With nursing assistants, the nurses and licensed practical nurses can focus on other complex patients who need more care and attention. Nursing assistants are responsible for taking care of patients who lack the necessary physical capability to perform tasks normal people often take for granted. Patients who are chronically ill for example, as their bodies age and loose the fight with their illness, their ability to perform activities of daily living diminishes. It is up to the nursing assistants to help them perform these activities which include brushing their teeth, eating, bathing, and toileting, combing their hair, changing positions in bed, standing and even sitting. Nursing assistants encourage them to do these tasks as independently as possible, but when they are struggling, the nursing assistant helps them finish the tasks.

In an entry level position, the nursing assistant salary is dependent on the amount of credentials and experience the nursing assistant has. If you have had prior experience as a nursing assistant in a specific facility, your pay rate is much higher. There are hospital facilities that take care of the nursing assistant training by giving those qualified free in-service training provided that these trainees work with the hospital after they graduate.

In some states, an entry level nursing assistant salary ranges from $10-12 an hour. States that have a higher cost of living will definitely pay nursing assistants much higher. The nursing assistant salary in hospitals is much higher than the salary in the nursing homes. Of course, the salary is higher in the hospitals because the workload is also much heavier.

Not all nursing assistants have to work in nursing homes or hospitals; they can also work in the patient’s house for a specific period of time. Those who work as home health nursing assistants are given free food and lodging and do not have to work at odd hours of the night. Home health nursing assistants are able to perform care for patients with long term ailments. Their job as home health attendants can include reminding the patient to take his medications on time in addition to helping him with his daily tasks.

Becoming a nursing assistant is a wise decision in entering the field of health care. Some nursing assistants progress to becoming licensed practical nurses and even registered nurses because of the love they have for their work.