What Are the Different Types of Trainee Nursing Jobs?

Individuals interested in trainee nursing jobs can work as home health aides, licensed practical nurses, and psychiatric nursing assistants. Trainee positions allow employees to perform the routine duties associated with the nursing positions they work in, but under the supervision of human resources directors or experienced personnel. Home health aides help people who are disabled or impaired maintain personal hygiene, diet regimens, and community involvement. Licensed practical nurses are authorized to perform basic medical procedures as well as assist in the maintaining of hygiene and nutritional standards. Psychiatric nursing assistants groom, feed, and socialize with psychiatric patients.

Home health aides can work in a patient’s home or in residential facilities. People may prefer home health aides over health facilities or institutions for this reason. Most home health aides are hired through government-sanctioned home health or hospice agencies.

People working trainee nursing jobs in this field perform tasks under the supervision of more experienced health aides or certified medical professionals. They are taught protocol and etiquette related to patient hygiene. Aides also learn the proper techniques for transferring immobile patients to another room, item of furniture, or vehicle. Certain patients may have dietary restrictions that require aides to know how to cook. Finally, aides are instructed about how to respond to an emergency or properly document changes in a patient’s condition for doctors.

Licensed practical nurses conduct basic physical examinations, perform minor medical services, and record the vital statistics of patients. People working trainee nursing jobs as licensed practical nurses are taught how to measure height, weight, blood pressure, and temperature. These nursing positions may also require individuals to routinely administer medication orally or intravenously. Some licensed practical nurses also collect blood or urine samples from patients for lab testing.

Certification or licensing is required before individuals can work trainee nursing jobs in this field. Most certification courses last one year and are offered by vocational schools. These institutions facilitate trainee job placement by providing students with internships at patient care facilities.

Psychiatric nursing assistants perform a variety of tasks similar to those executed by home health aides and licensed practical nurses. Aides ensure that psychiatric patients maintain proper hygiene and health by helping them bathe, groom, and eat. People working trainee nursing jobs in this field also keep patients happy and engaged through sports, recreational games, and public outings. Trainees may also be taught how to perform medical tasks such as taking a patient's temperature or blood pressure. Due to the amount of time aides spend interacting with patients, they are also taught how to observe and record physical or behavioral changes in patients.

Aides typically receive the majority of their training directly from their employers. Some regions or countries may require aides to have some sort of certification or training prior to employment, however. Most employee-sponsored training lasts for several months. During this time, trainees may participate in workshops and attend lectures in addition to the on-the-job instruction they receive.