Are you considering a career change or want to upgrade your skills? Start a new career as a Nurses’ Aide, Orderly or Patient Service Associate. Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates assist nurses, hospital staff and physicians in the basic care of patients. They are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted care facilities for the elderly and other health care establishments.
Nurses’ Aide, Orderly or Patient Service Associate
Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates perform some or all of the following duties:
- Answer call signals; supply and empty bed pans; bathe, dress and groom patients; serve meal trays, feed or assist in feeding of patients and assist patients with menu selection; weigh, lift, turn, and position patients; shave patients prior to operations; supervise patients' exercise routines, set up and provide leisure activities for patients, accompany patients on outside recreational activities and perform other duties related to patient care and comfort
- Take patients' blood pressure, temperature and pulse; report or record fluid intake and output; observe or monitor patients' status and document patient care on charts; administer first aid in emergency situations; collect specimens such as urine, faeces or sputum; administer suppositories, colonic irrigations and enemas and perform other procedures as directed by nursing and hospital staff
- Transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher for treatment or surgery
- Carry messages, reports, requisitions and specimens between departments
- Make beds and maintain patients' rooms; maintain inventory of supplies
- May perform maintenance tasks such as assisting with the set-up and maintenance of traction equipment, cleaning or sterilizing equipment, maintaining and repairing equipment, and assembling, setting-up and operating job-related equipment
- May transport patients between care facilities.
What you need to prepare yourself for this career?
- Some secondary school education and on-the-job training, or
- A nursing aide or health care aide college or private institutional program, or a college nursing orderly program and supervised practical training are required.
- Some health care facilities may also require completion of specialized courses such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), first aid and food handling/sterile processing.
- An appropriate class of driver's license may be required for medical attendants.
What does this career offer?
- Average or above average job prospects
- Competitive wages and opportunities
- Wages vary according to qualifications and experience
To learn more about this career visit www.workingincanada.gc.ca, search by occupation NOC #3413.
For additional information contact the Skills and Employment Program Counselor in your region:
- Tel: 604-438-4010 Ext. 610 or Email: sep.bc@iicanada.org in BC
- Tel: 403-215-6200 Ext. 214 or Email: cfp.sep@iicanada.org in AB
- Tel: 416-751-4001 Ext. 321 or Email: sepontario@iicanada.org in ON
- Tel: 514-738-8866 Ext. 16 or Email: Mirhussain.akabry@iicanada.net in QC