what is an assistant in nursing?
As an AIN (assistant in nursing), you take care of patients and help them with hygiene duties. Registered nurses give you patient care tasks to perform in order to assist patients. Your tasks could include obtaining and recording patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature. You also help patients shower, bathe and dress. If a patient has trouble with basic tasks, like eating or going to the toilet, you assist them.
When you work with patients with severe health conditions or those confined to a bed, you turn and reposition them to make them feel comfortable. You also aid in patient mobility, such as assisting them with moving from the bed to a wheelchair. Regardless of your duties, it is important to provide the best care and comfort to patients. You communicate with members of the healthcare team to address patient concerns and relay any changes in their medical condition.
Compared to other healthcare roles, your duties as an assistant in nursing are physically demanding and often strenuous. Between helping patients with mobility and aiding in a patient’s daily needs, you spend most of the day on your feet. Hence, the role of an AIN requires physical fitness and stamina.
view rolesaverage assistant in nursing salary
As an assistant in nursing, you take home an average remuneration package of $58,000 per year. Your earnings vary based on experience and skills. When you have minimal experience, you start with a salary of $55,000 annually. With experience and additional qualifications, your remuneration package increases gradually, and you can make over $60,000 per year.
what factors influence the salary of an assistant in nursing?
Your remuneration package depends on various factors. For instance, your qualifications determine your earnings. When you have certificate-level qualifications, you are likely to earn less than an assistant in nursing with a bachelor's degree. While the courses have work placement training to build your experience, you are likely to earn more if you have additional experience.
The scope of your duties also determines your earnings. You earn a higher salary when you have more duties that require additional training. Additionally, working in a large hospital or healthcare facility will boost your remuneration due to the complexity of your duties.
Want to know what you will earn as an AIN? Check out what you are worth with our salary checker.
types of assistants in nursing
As an AIN, you can specialise in diverse nursing areas, like working in critical care or taking care of specific patient types. Critical care assistants in nursing are trained to work in intensive care units and post-surgical care. As a critical care assistant, you transport patients for surgery, monitor vital signs and report urgent situations to registered nurses.
In geriatric nursing, you work as an assisting nurse to take care of the elderly. You cater to the needs of ageing patients in care homes and long-term care facilities. Aside from checking vital signs, you assist them with personal grooming tasks, like showering and toileting. Assistants in nursing also specialise in infant and child care. In this role, you assist with the routine care of children and infants in paediatric wards.
working as an assistant in nursing
Working as an assistant in nursing is an exciting career in healthcare. If you are interested in becoming an AIN, check out the duties, responsibilities and work environments.
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assistant in nursing job description
Your duties as an assistant in nursing depend on the healthcare facility you work for. However, common tasks include:
- assisting patients with personal care activities: whether you work in a care home or hospital ward, you assist patients with personal care activities. If a patient has a difficult time bathing, dressing or eating, you help them. Your job is to ensure patients are comfortable to enhance their recovery.
- taking vital signs: under the direction of a registered nurse, you measure and record the vital signs of patients at the wards. You take blood pressure readings, pulse rates and temperature. Any spikes in blood pressure or temperature should be reported to the nurse or doctor. You also record routine vital signs in patients' charts to help medical practitioners monitor their conditions.
- assisting patients with mobility: as an assistant in nursing, you work with patients in hospital wards. Some patients may have mobility issues or use wheelchairs. Your job is to help patients with mobility issues, like transferring them to beds from wheelchairs.
- cleaning patient rooms and equipment: as an assistant in nursing, you keep the patient rooms clean and tidy. You clean the rooms in case a patient vomits and also change the bedding. Other duties include sterilising the equipment in the patient rooms and keeping them organised to avoid accidents.
- addressing patients' concerns: as an assistant in nursing, you attend to patients' basic needs and comfort measures. For instance, if they need an extra blanket or water, you help them get what they need. You also note their concerns and pass along the information to the registered nurse or doctors.
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work environment
The work environment of an assistant in nursing differs based on the healthcare facility. You can work in long-term care facilities or aged care homes, mining community health centres, private clinics and hospitals. Since you work in hospitals and healthcare facilities, you spend most of the day indoors. You work in a highly collaborative work setting and are always in contact with registered nurses and healthcare staff. You spend most of your day on your feet and require personal protective equipment.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might includ general nurses, registered nurses and pharmacy assistants. You might also be working in close proximity to pharmacists and mental health nurses, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, midwives, enrolled nurses and lab assistants.
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work schedule
As an assistant in nursing, you typically work 38 hours a week. When you work full-time, you are likely to work in shift schedules of between eight to twelve hours. That means you work different shifts, including early morning and late night shifts in healthcare facilities that provide 24/7 care. Aside from full-time work, part-time opportunities are also available in some hospitals or private clinics.
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job outlook
Working as an assistant in nursing has an exceptional career path. It is a good foundation for advancing your career in healthcare. For instance, with experience and educational qualifications, you can become an enrolled nurse or registered nurse. Aside from working in hospitals, you have the opportunity to specialise in various medical areas, including paediatric nursing, emergency nursing and geriatric nursing.
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advantages of finding an assistant in nursing job through randstad
Finding your assistant in nursing job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an assistant in nursing is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Thousands of people earn a permanent contract every year with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too.
education and skills
If you want to become an assistant in nursing, you require a vocational education and training (VET) or technical and further education (TAFE) qualification. The minimum qualification necessary for the role is a Certificate III in health services assistance. The course takes six months and equips you with the knowledge and industry skills needed to join the healthcare industry as an AIN. The programme includes 120 hours of work placement, which will help you gain hands-on experience working in a healthcare facility.
You can advance your qualifications with a diploma of nursing or by registering with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Advancing your qualifications prepares you for senior roles, such as an enrolled nurse or registered nurse. Gain experience through volunteer opportunities in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
assistant in nursing skills and competencies
Some of the skills and qualities of assistants in nursing include:
- active listening skills: as an assistant in nursing, you work closely with patients, which requires active listening skills. You rely on your listening skills to understand the patient's concerns and take note of the symptoms to relay to a registered nurse. You also require good communication skills to communicate effectively with patients and their nurses.
- empathy: as an assistant in nursing, it is important to show compassion and empathy to patients facing various medical challenges. Your emotional intelligence helps you handle various situations, such as explaining treatment plans to patients and their families. You also make patients feel comfortable asking questions and making inquiries.
- teamwork: as an assistant in nursing, you collaborate with various teams since you work closely with general nurses and registered nurses. Having teamwork skills helps when interacting with other health practitioners and collaborating with nurses to complete treatment procedures.
- physical fitness: as an assistant in nursing, you help patients with mobility issues and work on your feet throughout the day. Having physical strength helps you perform physically demanding tasks, like lifting patients and pushing the medicine carts.
- attention to detail: as an assistant in nursing, you pay attention to even the slightest changes in patient conditions that may require further examination, such as changes in diet or sleep. Being attentive to details helps you provide better care for your patients.
FAQs about working as an assistant in nursing
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of an assistant in nursing.
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what is the role of an assistant in nursing?
As an assistant in nursing, you carry out the duties stipulated by the registered nurse. For instance, you help patients with eating or bathing. You also assist them with mobility and change their bedding.
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how much do assistants in nursing get paid in Australia?
An assistant in nursing earns an average salary of $58,000 per year. The remuneration package fluctuates based on experience and qualifications. In entry-level AIN positions, you start with a salary of $55,000 per year, while experienced nursing assistants take home over $60,000 annually.
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what qualifications do I need to become an assistant in nursing in Australia?
You require an educational qualification in health assistance to work as an assistant in nursing. Pursue a Certificate III in health services assistance to gain relevant knowledge. Improve your experience through work placement and entry-level AIN training courses.
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what is the difference between an assistant in nursing and a personal care assistant?
Assistants in nursing and personal care assistants work in health care settings, assisting patients with personal care. However, a personal care assistant can also work in residential settings, providing personalised care.
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what makes a good assistant in nursing?
As an assistant in nursing, you collaborate with healthcare professionals to provide the best care to patients. Having teamwork skills helps you excel in the role.
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how do I apply for an assistant in nursing vacancy?
Applying for an assistant in nursing job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here.
