Assistant nurse, nursing assistant salary

Occupational Profile: Nursing Assistant, Care Assistant

Nursing assistants and care assistants play a crucial role in the healthcare sector, primarily within elderly care, home care, and hospital environments. They contribute to the daily care of patients, ensure basic needs are met, and support other medical professionals.

Tasks and Working Environment

A nursing assistant or care assistant works closely with patients and performs tasks such as assisting with personal hygiene, meals, and certain medical procedures under the supervision of nurses. The working environment can vary from private homes to nursing homes and hospitals. The job requires good physical and mental endurance as it often involves assisting patients with mobility and handling emotionally demanding situations.

Education and Requirements for Employment

To work as a nursing assistant, a high school education in the healthcare program is usually required. There are also supplementary education and specializations that can improve job opportunities and career prospects. Post-secondary courses and certificates in specific areas such as dementia care or palliative care are also valuable.

Salary Statistics and Development

The average monthly salary for a nursing assistant, care assistant is 31 900 SEK. The wage gap between genders is relatively small, with women earning an average of 32 000 SEK and men 31 200 SEK. Therefore, women earn 102% of what men do. The salary has increased by 30 700 SEK since the last measurement, indicating a positive salary development within the profession.

Considerations for Those Wishing to Work as a Nursing Assistant

Working as a nursing assistant is physically and mentally challenging. It is important to have good physical health and strong empathic ability to handle the demands of the profession. It is also important to be aware that working hours often include evenings, nights, and weekends, especially in elderly care and hospitals.

Possible Benefits

Many healthcare facilities offer various benefits to support the well-being and professional development of their staff. This can include everything from paid further education to subsidized health programs and work tools like a company-provided mobile phone. These benefits contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of the profession and supporting the staff in their daily work.