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How exposed to AI is a Nursing Assistant?

Of the 33 tasks O*NET lists for nursing assistants, 1 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 26 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Certified Medication Aide (CMA)Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)Certified Nurses Aide (CNA)Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA)Nurses' AideNursing AideNursing AssistantPatient Care Assistant (PCA)State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA)
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
33
tasks rated for this occupation
13%
hold a degree, from a survey of 29
1315k
people do this job in the US
9 of 19
least protected in healthcare support

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

1
  • Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers

Only with software built on top

6
  • Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff
  • Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses
  • Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet
  • Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support
  • Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff
  • Record height or weight of patients

Cannot be sped up

26
  • Turn or reposition bedridden patients
  • Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs
  • Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink
  • Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising
  • Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements
  • Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves
  • Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine
  • Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers
  • Supply, collect, or empty bedpans
  • Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities
  • Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination
  • Prepare or serve food trays
  • Change bed linens or make beds
  • Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility
  • Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper
  • Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas
  • Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care
  • Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds
  • Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum
  • Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation
  • Set up treating or testing equipment, such as oxygen tents, portable radiograph (x-ray) equipment, or overhead irrigation bottles, as directed by a physician or nurse
  • Administer medications or treatments, such as catheterizations, suppositories, irrigations, enemas, massages, or douches, as directed by a physician or nurse
  • Apply clean dressings, slings, stockings, or support bandages, under direction of nurse or physician
  • Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays
  • Explain medical instructions to patients or family members
  • Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.