Nursing and psychiatric aides help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled, or infirm individuals in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and mental health settings. Nursing aides and home health aides are among the occupations commonly referred to as direct care workers, due to their role in working with patients who need long-term care. The specific care they give depends on their specialty, if any. To get a better understanding of what is expected of you if you get a job in a nursing home or home health care read the section titled "The Nature of Health Aides' Work" in this document which summarizes findings of an investigation of the work experiences of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).