Continuing Care Assistants, Nurses Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates
(NOC 3413)
in All HealthContinuing care assistants (CCA), nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates help nurses, hospital staff, and physicians in the basic care of patients. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities for the elderly, and other health care organizations.
Job Outlook
Good
Read more
Compared to: All Health
The demand for this occupation has increased because of the pandemic. Amid outbreaks in long-term care homes, shortage conditions emerged as some continuing care assistants (CCAs) were forced to self-isolate. Burnout increased, as remaining staff were required to cover coworkers’ shifts as well as manage the additional tasks and stress associated with treating COVID-19 patients. Some CCAs are employed at multiple long-term care facilities and hospitals. During outbreaks, the intention is to limit this practice as much as possible to avoid spreading COVID-19 between facilities. Having CCAs work exclusively at one facility increases the number of workers needed, worsening the existing shortage. In addition to an increased workload and change in tasks, some CCAs experienced impacts on their personal life because of the pandemic. Many chose to isolate from their household to avoid passing the virus from their workplace to family members. It has been reported that some CCAs contracted COVID-19 because of workplace exposure.
Prior to the pandemic, demand for CCAs was already strong. Jobseekers in this occupation should have little difficulty finding employment, as there are usually many vacancies. Some vacancies arise due to turnover due to the physically challenging nature of this occupation combined with relatively low wage rates. The majority of CCAs work in long-term care facilities. The growing popularity of homecare has also increased the demand for this occupation substantially.
The median employment income for the 47% of Continuing Care Assistants and Other Health Support Workers who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $38,631. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, the 59% of those who worked full-time, year-round had a median employment income of $43,600. (Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$15.54
Minimum$17.97
Median$21.60
MaximumAnnual Pay
$7,257
Minimum$32,014
Median$43,990
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.38
Minimum$30.45
Median$41.35
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Continuing care assistants (CCA), nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates help nurses, hospital staff, and physicians in the basic care of patients. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities for the elderly, and other health care organizations.
Job duties
Continuing care assistants, nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates:
- Bathe, dress and groom patients or residents.
- Answer call signals, supply and empty bed pans, serve meal trays, feed or assist in feeding of patients, help patients with menu selection, shave patients prior to operators, and supervise patients’ exercise routines.
- Weigh, lift, turn, and position patients.
- Set up and provide leisure activities for patients and accompany patients on outside recreational activities.
- Take patients' vitals, 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 like 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 like helping set-up and maintain 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.
Sample job titles
- continuing care assistant
- emergency medical care attendant (EMCA)
- health care aide
- hospice worker
- hospital attendant
- nurse aide
- nursing home attendant
- orderly
- personal care provider - medical
- psychiatric aide
Skills
You should have good interpersonal skills and a desire to help others. Patience and the ability to handle stressful situations may be needed. You should be an effective communicator and a good problem-solver. You must be efficient and accurate, yet sensitive to the needs of clients.
Job requirements
- Some high 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.
- To practice as a continuing care assistant (CCA) in Nova Scotia, an individual must be a graduate of an approved CCA program and have successfully completed the Nova Scotia CCA provincial exam.
- Some health care facilities may also require completion of specialized courses like CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), first aid and food handling/sterile processing.
- An appropriate class of driver's licence may be required for medical attendants.
Other considerations
Shift work and lifting are often required.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Health care and social assistance
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Educational services
Professional, scientific and technical services
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
35-44
55-64
25-34
15-24
65+
Compared to: All Health
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
College Diploma
$34,363 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,649 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$35,945 median annual incomeBachelor
$22,162 median annual incomeLess than high school
$29,582 median annual incomeCompared to: All Health
College Diploma
$40,033 median annual incomeBachelor
$61,668 median annual incomeMedicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$81,191 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,829 median annual incomeMaster
$69,296 median annual incomeEducation & training
Developmental Service Worker
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare individuals to apply practical knowledge and skills to support individuals with a variety of physical, mental or developmental disabilities in a family or community setting. They include courses in health care, basic nutrition, pharmacology, nursing, autism, mental health, psychology, sociology, behavioural analysis, communication, intervention, counselling and community services, and developmental services, such as literacy and life skills training.
Institutions providing this program
Lower Sackville, NS
Sydney, NS
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to perform routine nursing-related services to patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities, under the training and supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
Institutions providing this program
Lower Sackville, NS
Halifax, NS
Sydney, NS
Truro, NS
Stellarton, NS
Port Hawkesbury, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Special Requirements: Standards exist for this job in Nova Scotia. Certification or membership in a professional body may be required by employers, but a certificate is not needed to do this work.
Contacts
Additional resources
There are no additional resources for this occupation.