Career Explorer
Business
Health
Education
Human Service
Culinary
Technology & Engineering
Computers
Auto/DieselHealth
Patient Care Aide
Everything you do as a Patient Care Aide contributes to the patient’s quality of life. Working under a nurse’s supervision, you help patients with activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing, and may perform basic procedures to assess a patient’s condition such as taking their pulse rate or blood pressure. Just as importantly, you use your observation skills to monitor the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional condition and report any changes to the nursing staff.
You’ll need to be in good health and physically fit because your work involves standing and walking as well as repositioning or moving patients. Although the work can be both physically and emotionally demanding, assisting people in need can be very satisfying.
Your studies at Baker can help you transform your desire to help people into a satisfying career. You’ll gain the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and hands-on practice in caring for patients through classroom studies and supervised work experiences that will prepare you to take the State of Michigan exam required to become a Certified Nurse Aide.
Career Facts
- The average annual wage for Patient Care Aides is $24,980.
- It’s a fast-growing field, with 19 percent growth expected by 2018, faster than the average for all occupations.
- A 40-hour work week is standard, but because patients need care 24 hours a day, your work may include nights, weekends, or holidays.
- Most jobs are in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals, but Patient Care Aides also work in outpatient care facilities, home health agencies, government agencies, and family services.
- Advancing in this field usually requires additional formal training or education.
Programs
Visit our Programs section for more information
Want to get the ball rolling?
Everything about our college is aimed at getting you the job you want in the shortest time possible — from our affordable tuition, to how we choose our programs, to our small class sizes, and flexible class schedules.
Discover what Baker can do for your future. Schedule a visit or enroll online today.
