Nursing assistant

The job, day to day

The job is to help patients with the everyday tasks of life: washing, settling into bed or a chair, meals and moving around. You look after their comfort and hygiene, you observe how they are doing, and you report what you notice to the nurse or the doctor. It is a role built on presence and attention, carried out close to people who are ill, elderly or recovering.

The course teaches these skills in the order in which you will use them. You start with how the human body works and the hygiene rules that protect both patient and carer. You then learn basic care, how to take vital signs, and how to pass on your observations, in writing and in person. Particular weight is given to the human side of care: welcoming patients, listening, reassuring families and respecting professional confidentiality.

A clinical placement in a health facility puts you in real working conditions before the end of the programme. The diploma you earn then allows you to apply to private clinics, to public hospitals, or to families who need care at home.