Many gain personal satisfactions, however, from assisting those in need. Employment Nursing aides held about 1,225,000 jobs in 1990, while psychiatric aides held about 120,000 jobs. Almost half of all nursing aides worked in nursing homes, and about one- quarter worked in hospitals and State and county mental institutions. Almost all psychiatric aids worked in psychiatric hospitals, State and county mental institutions or private psychiatric facilities. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement These are entry level jobs that do not ordinarily require work experience.
Educational requirements are minimal.
Although employers prefer high school graduates, many, such as Veterans Administration medical centers, do not require a high school diploma. Employers often accept applicants who are 17 or 18 years of age. In addition to providing young people with an entry to the world of work, these occupations offer good opportunities for middle-aged and older individuals who do not have a high school diploma. The fact that personal qualifications such as warmth, dependability, and maturity outweigh formal educational requirements is a distinctive feature of these occupations. However, hiring requirements are beginning to change in the direction of more formal preparation.