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Occupational Requirements Survey
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Nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
Cognitive and mental requirements
The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.
In 2024, more than basic people skills were required for 87.7 percent of nursing assistants, and basic people skills were required for 12.3 percent.
| Requirement | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Adaptability: Work schedule variability |
51.5 | 48.5 |
|
Pace: Pause control |
34.0 | 66.0 |
|
Working around crowds |
<0.5 | >99.5 |
|
Telework |
<0.5 | >99.5 |
|
Work review: Supervising others |
<0.5 | >99.5 |
|
Work review: Presence of supervisor |
81.9 | 18.1 |
|
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey |
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Education, training, and experience requirements
The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs.
In 2024, prior work experience was required for 21.5 percent of nursing assistants and on-the-job training was required for 95.5 percent.
No minimum education was required for 32.4 percent of nursing assistants and a high school diploma was required for 66.4 percent.
Environmental conditions
The various tangible or concrete hazards or difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ critical tasks are performed.
In 2024, greater than 99.5 percent of nursing assistants were not exposed to extreme cold, and greater than 99.5 percent were not exposed to extreme heat. Wetness was not present for 2.3 percent, greater than 99.5 percent were not exposed to heavy vibrations, and 78.9 percent were not exposed to the outdoors.
Physical demands
Refer to the physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.
In 2024, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for greater than 99.5 percent of nursing assistants and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For 5.0 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom performed, for 76.2 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred occasionally, 18.5 percent frequently, and for less than 0.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred constantly.
Performing work in low postures was required for 97.0 percent of nursing assistants and was not required for 3.0 percent.
On average, nursing assistants spent 23.0 percent of the workday sitting and 77.0 percent of the workday standing.
| Requirement | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Choice of sitting or standing |
<10 | >90 |
|
Driving |
2.6 | 97.4 |
|
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs |
6.1 | 93.9 |
|
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey |
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