What Do Nursing Assistants Do?
Nursing assistants provide basic patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or other medical staff. Nursing assistants may take and record a patient’s temperature, pulse, and blood pressure; assist patients with activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and toileting; help patients to get in and out of bed; and assist with nursing procedures. They also answer calls for assistance and help, deliver messages, serve meals, make beds, and tidy up rooms. Nursing assistants also observe patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions and report the status or changes to the nursing or medical staff.
Nursing assistants who work in long term nursing care are often principal caregivers since they have more frequent and direct contact with the nursing home residents than do other staff members. Since nursing home residents are likely to remain for an extended period of time, nursing assistants often develop ongoing relationships with them. These relationships play an important role in continuity of care and can impact quality of care and health outcomes.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups nursing assistants with orderlies. For more information about this occupation, go to: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm
Where Do Nursing Assistants Work?
Nursing assistants work primarily in institutional settings such as hospitals, assisted living centers, and nursing homes.
How Much Do Nursing Assistants Earn?
In 2022, the average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for nursing assistants in the United States was $36,220. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that, in 2023, nursing assistants in New York earned a median annual salary of $46,073 (nursing assistants in the 25th percentile made approximately $36,193 while those in the 75th percentile made approximately $50,027).
Supply and Demand
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of jobs for nursing assistants and orderlies in the U.S. will increase by 5% between 2021 and 2031. The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for nursing assistants in the state will increase by 17% between 2020 and 2030. The need for nursing assistants is growing because as the country’s population ages, demand for health care services rises, particularly long-term care for older adults.
New York Educational Requirements
Training and education requirements for nursing assistants who work in hospitals vary by institution. In some instances, employers may require a high school diploma or G.E.D and may provide on-the-job training; others may require prior nursing assistant experience; some may want both. Nursing assistants who work in nursing homes in New York must be certified, which includes completing an approved 100-hour training program, passing a competency examination, and becoming listed on the New York State Nurse Aide Registry.
Certified nursing assistant training is available in a variety of settings, including high schools (usually through a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) program), propriety schools, community colleges, adult education classes at some universities, and in some instances, nursing homes and nonprofit community organizations. The training topics will likely include body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, infection control, effective communication, and patients’ rights. The training also instructs participants in how to assist people with activities of daily living, such as bathing, eating, and grooming.
Financial Support
Many opportunities for financial support, loans, and scholarships exist for those wishing to study to become a nursing assistant. Please visit the New York State Education Department Web site for scholarships, grants, and loans information by clicking here.
Also, check the resources listed on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Web site
and please refer to the resources listed on the Nursing Assistant Guides Website.
Also, a list of scholarships for becoming a certified nursing assistant can be found on this website page from FindCNAclasses.com.
Education Programs in New York (subject to change)
For a list of approved nursing aide training programs from the New York State Education Department, go to: www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseprogs-cna.htm
| ASA College 1293 Broadway, New York, NY 10001 151 Lawrence St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (877) 679-8772 |
Access Careers 474 Fulton Ave, Hempstead, NY 11550 (516) 433-0034 1930 Veterans Hwy, Islandia, NY 11749 (631) 630-9410 |
| Monroe 2 BOCES Center for Workforce Development Rochester Technology Park 160 Wallace Way, Bldg 9 Rochester, NY 14624 (585) 349-9100 |
Center for Instruction, Tech, & Innovation (Citi) 179 County Route 64 Mexico, NY 13114 (315) 963-4251 |
| New Age Training 145 W 30th St 8th Fl New York, NY 10001 (212) 947-7940 |
Educational Opportunity Centers in NYS Buffalo Bronx Capital District Long Island Manhattan Rochester Syracuse Westchester |
| Fulton-Montgomery Community College 2805 State Hwy 67 Johnstown, NY 12095 (518) 736-3622 |
Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES 555 Warren Rd Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-1551 |
| Finger Lakes Community College 3325 Marvin Sands Dr Canandaigua, NY 14424 (585) 394-3522 |
Mohawk Valley Community College 1101 Sherman Dr Utica, NY 13501 (315) 792-5400 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY 2800 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10314 (718) 982-2000 |
Kingsborough Community College 2001 Oriental Blvd Brooklyn, NY 11235 (718) 368-5000 |
| Finger Lakes Health 196 North Street Geneva, NY 14456 (315) 787-4039 |
New York Medial Career Training Ctr 36-09 Main St 5th Fl Flushing, NY 11354 (718) 460-1717 |
| Rochester Regional Health Learning Center 1630 Portland Ave Rochester, NY 14609 (585) 922-1381 |
Allen School of Health Sciences 163-18 Jamaica Ave Jamaica, NY 11432 (888) 620-6745 |
| Access Institute 8002 Kew Gardens Rd Kew Gardens, NY 11415 (718) 263-0750 |
Queensborough Community College 222-05 56th Ave Bayside, NY 11364 (718) 631-6262 |
| Amazing Grace CNA School 212-47 Jamaica Ave Ste 208 Queens Village, NY 11428 (718) 527-1563 |
Office of Adult & Career Education Services (OACES) 30 Hart St Rochester, NY 14605 (585) 467-7683 |
| IGBANS Institute of Vocational Training 216-19 Merrick Blvd Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 (718) 276-8100 |
GST BOCES (Greater Southern Tier) N Main St (Langdon Plz) Elmira, NY (607) 739-7905 |
| Samaritan Health (Classes held at) 133 Pratt St Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 779-5135 |
Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton BOCES 20104 State Route 3 Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 779-7200 |
| Capital Region Career & Tech School 900 Watervliet-Shaker Rd Albany, NY 12205 (518) 862-4900 |
Mildred Elley 855 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206 (888) 290-3847 25 Broadway, Fl 16, New York, NY 10004 (866) 878-0041 |
| Lehman College- CUNY 250 Bedford Park Blvd W Bronx, NY 10468 (718) 960-8000 |
Phoenix Nurse Aide Training Center 540 E 180th St, Ste 201 Bronx, NY 10457 (718) 484-7604 |
| ABC Training Center 50 E Fordham Rd Bronx, NY 10468 (718) 618-5589 |
Hostos Community College 500 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10451 (718) 502-8246 |
| ValuCare 550 Front St Hempstead, NY 11550 (516) 345-4777 |
Cambridge Business Institute 50 Clinton St Ste 303 Hempstead, NY 11550 (516) 874-5059 |
| Schenectady County Community College Center City 433A State St. 2nd Fl Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 621-4007 |
Big Apple Training 200 Hamilton Ave, White Plains, NY (914) 437-7373 4653 White Plains Rd, Bronx, NY 10470 (718) 231-3600 |
| Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology- Eastern Suffolk BOCES 201 Sunrise Hwy Patchogue, NY 11772 (631) 419-1628 |
Wilson Tech 507 Deer park Rd Dix Hills, NY 11746 Huntington Station, NY 11746 (631) 549-4900 |
| Nassau Community College One Education Dr Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 572-7501 |
Medgar Evers College CNA Test Preparation 1650 Bedford Ave Brooklyn, NY 11225 (718) 270-4900 |
| UpSkill-Buffalo Public Schools Adult Education Division 389 Virginia St Buffalo, NY 14201 (716) 888-7088 |
Erie 1 BOCES 1526 Walden Ave Cheektowaga, NY 14225 (716) 821-7500 |
| Catholic Health Buffalo area locations 144 Genesee St Buffalo, NY 14203 (716) 706-2112 |
Elderwood Careers 5775 Maelou Dr Hamburg, NY 14075 (888) 826-9663 |
| The City College of New York 160 Convent Ave New York, NY 10031 (212) 650-7000 |
School of Allied Health 545 8th Ave, Ste 400 New York, NY 10018 and 91 N Franklin St. Ste 301 Hempstead, NY 11550 (212) 564-2351 |
| NY Institute of Medical Careers 67-09 Woodside Ave 1st Fl Woodside, NY 11377 (718) 565-9500 |
NY Institute of Health Careers, LLC 89-44 162nd St Jamaica, NY 11432 (718) 206-1750 |
| ACE Institute of Technology 312 W 36th St, 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10018 (212) 695-9700 4040 75th St Ste 4038, Elmhurst, NY 11373 (718) 575-3223 |
St. Ann’s Community 1500 Portland Ave Rochester, NY 14621 (585) 697-6000 |