Nursing assistants (NAs), also known as nurse aides, play a vital role in providing personal care across various settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, hospices, and correctional institutions.
They assist patients of all ages with essential daily tasks under the supervision of a nurse, offering critical support and keeping nurses informed of changes in patient conditions.
Training
Nursing assistants must complete a state-approved education program in which they learn the basic principles of nursing and complete supervised clinical work. These programs are found in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals and nursing homes.
In addition, nursing assistants typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training to learn about their specific employer’s policies and procedures.
A registered nurse generally teaches the classes. The length of training depends on the program. The classes offer the basics of what to expect with the job; however, this is a career in which skill levels and confidence dramatically improve once the nursing assistant becomes involved in the daily routine of actual caregiving.
Job Overview
Job Duties
Nursing assistants help patients of all ages perform the most basic daily tasks. They work under a nurse’s supervision, and since they have extensive daily contact with each patient, they play a key role in the lives of their patients and in keeping the nurse up to date on vital information about the patients’ conditions.
Nursing assistants provide assistance with such tasks as:
- Dressing
- Bathing and skin care
- Feeding
- Mouth and hair care
- Making beds
- Toileting assistance and catheter care
- Bowel and bladder care
- Taking vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, etc)
- Helping patients walk
- Assisting with range-of-motion exercises
- Helping wheelchair-bound patients using safe patient handling devices
- Turning and positioning bedridden patients regularly
- Reporting all changes to the nurse
- Safety awareness
- Observing, reporting and documentation
- Post-mortem care
All states require nursing assistants who work in nursing homes to pass a state test, be state-approved and be listed on the state registry. Nursing assistants may be certified (CNA), registered (RNA), licensed (LNA) or state tested and approved (STNA).
Key Responsibilities
Staffing shortages often lead to high workloads and physical demands, resulting in higher wages among nursing assistants. Despite these challenges, they remain essential to providing quality care.
Nursing assistants help patients with tasks such as:
- Personal Care and Hygiene: Assisting with dressing, bathing, skin care, feeding, mouth care, hair care, and toileting needs.
- Health Monitoring and Mobility Support: Measuring vital signs, helping with mobility exercises, and safely handling patients with limited mobility or bedridden conditions.
- Observation and Reporting: Monitoring patient conditions, ensuring safety, documenting changes, and providing post-mortem care when necessary.
Types of CNA Jobs in Pennsylvania
Acts Retirement-Life Communities
Location: 238 Street Road, Southampton, PA 18966
Salary: $16.80 – $20.85/hour
Job Description: Acts is seeking CNAs/Med Techs for their assisted living neighborhood. Responsibilities include providing direct resident care, assisting with medication administration, and supporting other community services. Shifts are from 3 PM to 11 PM, five days a week. Benefits include health insurance, a 401(k) with a 4% match, tuition reimbursement, and flexible spending accounts.
Mt. Macrina Manor
Location: 520 W Main St, Uniontown, PA 15401
Salary: Up to $31.60/hour
Job Description: This skilled nursing facility is hiring CNAs to provide care according to residents’ plans of care. Duties include assisting with daily living activities, promoting resident dignity, and maintaining a safe environment. 12-hour shifts are available, and the facility emphasizes compassionate care in a homelike setting.
Heritage Pointe Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Location: Warrington, PA 18976
Salary: $19.00 – $25.50/hour + sign-on bonuses ($1,500 full-time/$750 part-time)
Job Description: CNAs are responsible for assisting residents with daily activities, personal hygiene, and documentation of care. Heritage Pointe offers a full benefits package, tuition reimbursement, and shift differentials for evening, night, and weekend shifts.
Embassy of Park Avenue
Location: 14714 Park Avenue Ext, Meadville, PA 16335
Salary: Up to $22.50/hour
Job Description: Embassy of Park Avenue seeks CNAs for all shifts, offering a low-deductible benefits package, annual attendance bonuses, and a uniform allowance. Responsibilities include providing care to residents in a skilled nursing setting and maintaining compliance with safety protocols.
Bethlen Home Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation
Location: 66 Carey School Rd, Ligonier, PA 15658
Salary: $18/hour
Job Description: CNAs assist residents with activities of daily living, document care, and ensure a clean, safe environment. Bethlen offers flexible scheduling, a 403(b) retirement plan, and health benefits. Shift differentials of $1/hour are provided for evening and night shifts.
Chandler Hall Health Services
Location: 99 Barclay Street, Newtown, PA 18940
Salary: $18 – $25/hour
Job Description: Chandler Hall provides care for older adults, offering CNAs full-time, part-time, and per-diem shifts. Responsibilities include meeting residents’ physical, emotional, and social needs in a skilled nursing facility. Benefits include childcare discounts, a gym membership, health insurance, and paid time off.
Elite365
Location: Mars, PA
Salary: $26/hour
Job Description: Elite365 offers contract positions for CNAs, with 8-week assignments and flexible shifts. Responsibilities include patient care, administering medications, and assisting with transport. Elite365 provides a supportive environment for healthcare professionals.
Aveanna Healthcare
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Salary: Competitive hourly rates
Job Description: Aveanna Healthcare offers flexible scheduling for CNAs providing in-home care. Responsibilities include assisting with daily living activities and personal medical care. Benefits include weekly pay, PTO, and opportunities for career advancement.
AHN Healthcare@Home
Location: Monroeville, PA
Salary: Competitive pay with benefits
Job Description: CNAs at AHN Healthcare@Home provide hospice care in patients’ homes. Benefits include 23 days of paid time off in the first year, a 401(k) with matching, and flexible scheduling. The role requires frequent travel within assigned territories.
Hilltop Heights Health & Rehab Center
Location: Johnstown, PA
Salary: Up to $22.25/hour (+ shift differentials)
Job Description: CNAs provide direct care in a long-term care setting. Full-time roles offer a $5,000 sign-on bonus, shift differentials, and on-demand pay. Benefits include tuition opportunities and a robust health insurance package.
Maple Heights Health & Rehab Center
Location: Ebensburg, PA
Salary: Up to $22.25/hour (+ shift differentials)
Job Description: CNAs assist with resident care, maintaining safety and hygiene standards. Shifts are flexible, and benefits include paid time off, a 401(k) plan, and educational opportunities.
These roles demonstrate the variety of CNA positions available in Pennsylvania, offering competitive pay and comprehensive benefits to healthcare professionals.
