Pros and Cons of a Resident Care Assistant Career
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Resident care assistants, also referred to as nurse's aides or nurse's assistants, help with essential daily tasks, such as bathing, grooming, eating, dressing and cleaning of residents in long-term care facilities, hospitals or nursing homes. To determine whether this is the right career path for you, explore the follow pros and cons:
| Pros of a Resident Care Assistant Career |
|---|
| Good preparation for nursing career (many of the tasks and duties that you'll have as a resident care assistant are similar to those of nurses)* |
| Solid employment outlook (overall employment of individuals in this profession is projected to grow by 21% from 2012 through 2022)* |
| Low barrier of entry (some employers may require as little as a high school diploma and several months of relevant professional experience)* |
| Emotionally fulfilling (you may derive immense satisfaction from knowing that you're helping people with tasks that are extremely important to their everyday lives)* |
| Cons of a Resident Care Assistant Career |
|---|
| Physical labor (resident care assistants must stand for long periods, as well as kneel and lift heavy patients)* |
| Workplace hazards (resident care assistants must deal with such hazards as airborne pathogens and infections on a daily basis)* |
| Low pay (compensation for the physical toil and workplace risks is rather low)* |
| Limited advancement opportunities (unless you have aspirations to go into other fields, such as nursing and medical assisting, there aren't many opportunities for promotion down the line)* |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics*
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