Health care support workers are supervised by registered nurses or other regulated health care professionals. They provide a variety of critical, non-clinical, non-direct care supports to patients and residents.

Typical duties include:

• Participating as an integral member of a health care delivery team
• Establishing a caring relationship with clients, residents and families
• Providing support and assistance with mealtime activities
• Providing support and assistance in carrying out activities
• Performing housekeeping duties
• Greeting and directing visitors
• Restocking supplies
• Completing and maintaining relevant records
• Health care support workers earn $21.37 an hour

Health care assistants are members of the health care team who provide personal care in a variety of health care settings including acute care hospitals, assisted living facilities, group homes, long-term care and community care.

They are supervised by registered nurses or other regulated health care professionals and follow established care plans to provide personal care such as bathing, grooming, dressing, assisting with meals and oral hygiene.

Other duties include:

• Helping in the delivery of nursing care, including taking temperature, pulse and respiration readings
• Documenting information on a patient’s chart
• Responding to call bells/alarms in hospital settings
• Observing and monitoring patient progress, symptoms and behavioural changes and reporting significant observations
• Utilizing mechanical aides (specialty beds, lifts, wheelchairs and stretchers) to transport patients
• Providing assistance with positioning, lifting and/or transferring patients using established lifting/safety techniques
• Maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients and staff