Differnt Pay Scale For Nursing Assistants

Nursing Assistants are a valuable part of ourDue to the pay difference, some individuals
medical facility staff. They offer ongoing care tochoose to go to school directly into a degree
patients at level most other staff don't have theprogram and skip the Nursing Assistant certificate
time to. They tend to basic needs of bathing,program all together. For those wanting to ease in
feeding, and dressing. They also provide emotionalthe doorway of the medical profession and those
support to the patient and the family. Nursingwho need the income while in school, the Nursing
Assistants are expected to help other medicalAssistant program is still very valuable to them in
staff at a moments notice with a variety ofterms of having an income and being in a learning
tasks including setting up medical equipment andenvironment of the medical field.
getting patients ready to be taken for X-rays andThe pay scale difference can often result in issues
surgery.arising between Nursing Assistants and the Nursing
Most people entering the Nursing Assistant fieldstaff. On one side, you have Nursing staff feeling
don't do it for the pay. They do it out of a desirethat they have a degree and shouldn't have to
to be of assistance to others in need as well as aparticipate in particular tasks. Others just are
desire to work in the medical field. Since medicaloverwhelmed by time restraints, and therefore
facilities rank Nursing Assistant as an entry levelkeep their job segregated from that of the
position, they pay is very low compared toNursing Assistants. On the other side you have
others, especially nurses. This can lead to someNursing Assistants who feel their tasks are harder
Nursing Assistants feeling angry, upset, andand they aren't getting paid nearly as much as the
unappreciated.      The median expected salaryNursing staff. This can lead to them developing
for a Nursing Assistant in the United States isfeelings of resentment towards the Nursing staff.
$24,383. On average, that is approximatelyThis being said, it is important for administration to
$2,000 per month. That amount varies byhelp both the Nursing staff and Nursing Assistants
experience and job location. As you can see, itinteract and appreciate each other.
does pay more than minimum wage and oftenSeeing that pay difference as well as wanting to
employees in this field are able to secure healthparticipate in more advances areas with the
insurance and retirement plans.patients has lead many Nursing Assistants back
However, when you compare that to the medianinto training to earn a degree as a Licensed
salary of a Licensed Practical Nurse, which isPractice Nurse, a Registered Nurse, or another
$43,333, you can see a huge different. While it isspecified area in the medical field.
understood that the Licensed Practical NurseMedical facilities and the government agree that
position holds more responsibility and well aswhen medical staff is short, the patients are the
requires more schooling and training, we can alsoones who suffer the most. It is no different in the
see why some Nursing Assistants feel that theyarea of Nursing Assistant. If they positions aren't
aren't earning enough. It is also common that thefilled, the patients may not get all of their needs
better a Nursing Assistant is paid, the more pridemet daily. For example, some nursing homes only
they take in offering quality services to allbathe the patients every other day because of
patients.short staff issues.
Many health care facilities understand this, andThe government is trying to find funding to help
work hard to keep Nursing Assistants content.increase the rate of pay for Nursing Assistants.
They try to give raises as they can forHowever, they feel that they pay isn't the only
performance as well as the length of time on theissue. It is believed that healthcare facilities need
job. They understand that Nursing Assistants areto start showing Nursing Assistants more respect,
vital to the overall balance of the Nursing staff.appreciation, and recognition for their hard work.
They also realize finding qualified employees isThis profession has one of the highest turn over
hard enough without having to continuallyrates do to demanding work conditions, feelings
interview and train new staff. Since Nursingof being under valued, and lower pay than most
Assistant jobs are plentiful, they can lose theirfeel they are worth. The result is healthcare
good employees to other facilities who offerfacility patients feeling the burden in part because
better pay.of the pay scale for Nursing Assistants.