What Do Medication Aides Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for medication aides?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what medication aides do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Medication Aides Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about medication aides by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Medication Aides provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks. Includes nursing care attendants, nursing aides, and nursing attendants.
Popular Job Titles For Medication Aides
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Certified Nursing Assistants
- Nursing Assistants
- State Tested Nursing Assistants
- Certified Nursing Assistants/Home Health Aides
- Certified Nurse Aides/Certified Nursing Assistants
- Nurse Aides
- Medication Aides
- Medication Technicians
- Certified Nurse Aides
- Hospice Certified Nursing Assistants
- Certified Medication Aides/Certified Medical Assistants
- Qualified Medication Aides
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for medication aides can be found.
Best Industries for Medication Aides
Medication Aides Jobs By Industry
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 33.5%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 25.3%
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly: 10.7%
- Home Health Care Services: 5.9%
- Employment Services: 4%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 3.7%
- Other: 16.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of medication aides can be found working in the Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) sector. In 2023, about 33.5% of all jobs for medication aides were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (25.3%), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (10.7%), Home Health Care Services (5.9%), Employment Services (4%) and Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (3.7%).
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Degree Options for Medication Aides
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Certificates & Microcredentials for Medication Aides
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- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
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- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
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What Do Medication Aides Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what medication aides do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work medication aides do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that medication aides tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for medication aides, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Medication Aides
Based on 318,773 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Medication Aides
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 168,064 | 53% |
| Activities Of Daily Living (ADLs) | 88,616 | 28% |
| Vital Signs | 86,577 | 27% |
| Personal Care | 55,803 | 18% |
| Toileting | 50,422 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Medication Aides
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 71,205 | 22% |
| English Language | 33,906 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 28,957 | 9% |
| Compassion | 25,854 | 8% |
| Management | 21,902 | 7% |
Based on 318,773 job postings related to medication aides, nursing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 53% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for activities of daily living (adls), vital signs, personal care, toileting and nursing care were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for medication aides, followed by english language, customer service, compassion, management and clerical works.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 168,064 | 53% |
| Activities Of Daily Living (ADLs) | 88,616 | 28% |
| Vital Signs | 86,577 | 27% |
| Personal Care | 55,803 | 18% |
| Toileting | 50,422 | 16% |
| Nursing Care | 43,194 | 14% |
| Patient Assistance | 39,223 | 12% |
| Housekeeping | 31,641 | 10% |
| Caregiving | 30,452 | 10% |
| Infection Control | 30,051 | 9% |
| Oral Hygiene | 28,046 | 9% |
| Long-Term Care | 26,927 | 8% |
| Home Health Care | 26,823 | 8% |
| Medication Administration | 23,840 | 7% |
| Blood Pressure | 20,516 | 6% |
| Direct Patient Care | 20,376 | 6% |
| Medical Records | 20,044 | 6% |
| Basic Patient Care | 19,818 | 6% |
| Linens | 18,702 | 6% |
| Nail Care | 18,617 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 71,205 | 22% |
| English Language | 33,906 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 28,957 | 9% |
| Compassion | 25,854 | 8% |
| Management | 21,902 | 7% |
| Clerical Works | 20,259 | 6% |
| Lifting Ability | 19,508 | 6% |
| Computer Literacy | 18,557 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 15,725 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 15,306 | 5% |
| Writing | 13,210 | 4% |
| Detail Oriented | 12,654 | 4% |
| Teamwork | 11,702 | 4% |
| Organizational Skills | 10,496 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 10,182 | 3% |
| Cleanliness | 10,166 | 3% |
| Tactfulness | 9,883 | 3% |
| Time Management | 9,325 | 3% |
| Leadership | 9,111 | 3% |
| Operations | 8,874 | 3% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Medication Aides
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nursing Assistants | 365,044 | 52.7% |
| Nursing Assistants | 53,674 | 7.7% |
| State Tested Nursing Assistants | 32,761 | 4.7% |
| Certified Nursing Assistants/Home Health Aides | 20,688 | 3% |
| Certified Nurse Aides/Certified Nursing Assistants | 22,815 | 3.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was certified nursing assistants, with 87,275 unique job postings. Nursing assistants were second, with 8,376 postings, followed by state tested nursing assistants, certified nursing assistants/home health aides and certified nurse aides/certified nursing assistants.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to medication aides.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nursing Assistants | 365,044 | 52.7% |
| Nursing Assistants | 53,674 | 7.7% |
| State Tested Nursing Assistants | 32,761 | 4.7% |
| Certified Nursing Assistants/Home Health Aides | 20,688 | 3% |
| Certified Nurse Aides/Certified Nursing Assistants | 22,815 | 3.3% |
| Nurse Aides | 22,894 | 3.3% |
| Medication Aides | 21,403 | 3.1% |
| Medication Technicians | 18,310 | 2.6% |
| Certified Nurse Aides | 17,083 | 2.5% |
| Hospice Certified Nursing Assistants | 12,762 | 1.8% |
| Certified Medication Aides/Certified Medical Assistants | 15,142 | 2.2% |
| Qualified Medication Aides | 13,121 | 1.9% |
| Hiring Managers | 17,655 | 2.5% |
| Geriatric Nursing Assistants | 10,434 | 1.5% |
| Caregivers/Certified Nursing Assistants | 8,717 | 1.3% |
| Certified Medication Aides | 9,689 | 1.4% |
| Patient Care Associates | 10,748 | 1.6% |
| Medical Surgical Registered Nurses | 7,966 | 1.1% |
| Certified Medication Technicians | 6,726 | 1% |
| Home Health Aides/Personal Care Aides | 5,396 | 0.8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for medication aides? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for medication aides.
How much do medication aides make?
Medication Aides: How do you become one?
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