This page covers one of the National Occupation Categories (NOC) developed by Economic and Social Development Canada: 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates.
“Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates assist nurses, hospital staff and physicians in the basic care of patients. They are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities for the elderly and other health care establishments. Emergency medical care attendant are employed by private ambulance services, urgent care centers or other health facilities.” (NOC 2021)
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts. The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
Explore related Graduate Certificates or other relevant avenues for further education.
Here are a few other categories that might interest you:
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
This degree teaches aging and health factors that affect people’s lives, helping to understand the needs and concerns of older adults or those with ongoing health issues. This prepares students to interact with patients more empathetically and professionally.
Occupations in this category work with a wide range of people – patients, medical staff, families – often under stress. A degree in Society, Culture & Religion provides an understanding of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, which help to navigate interactions with care and sensitivity.
Sociology explores topics like inequality, health disparities, and social support system, fostering empathy and compassion, which are key in delivering patient-centered service.
A degree in Social Psychology enhances understanding of how people think, feel, and behave in social contexts, including under stress or illness. This helps in interpreting patient needs, fears, or resistance calmly and effectively.
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