Many employers accept geriatric nursing assistants who have only a high school diploma or GED and simply train these professionals on the job. Geriatric nursing assistants must complete at least 75 hours of state-approved training, during which they are supervised by professionals such as a licensed nurse or experienced nursing assistant. They then must pass a competency examination. After passing the test, these geriatric nursing assistants are considered Certified Nursing Assistants and are placed on their state's registry of nurse aides. Some employers additionally might provide workshops and in-service training opportunities to geriatric nursing assistants.
Changing bed linens and providing meals to the elderly are a couple of skills that individuals in geriatric nursing assistant training programs must learn. These individuals also learn how to feed elderly patients, help patients with their personal hygiene by bathing them and also dress patients. Geriatric nursing assistant students additionally study how to position and move patients who are confined to beds, as well as maintain patient medical care records.
Geriatric nursing assistants also learn how to take vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, respiration and pulse. Through their training experiences, geriatric nursing assistants should not only learn basic nursing skills but also study infection control and the regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These health care professionals also learn how to watch out for physical or behavioral changes in patients and report these situations to their supervisors.
After completing geriatric nursing assistant training, students can find work in a wide range of settings. For example, they can be employed in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation organizations and hospitals. They also can work in patients' homes. Those who wish to advance in the health care field can complete training programs to become licensed practical nurses, medical assistants or registered nurses.
Employment of psychiatric and nursing aides, which includes geriatric nursing assistants, is projected to climb 18 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The demand for geriatric nursing assistants in particular can be attributed to a growing elderly population, who will need more long-term care services. Median hourly wages of nursing assistants in May 2008 were $11.46, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.