Nursing aides, sometimes called nursing attendants or nursing assistants, provide basic care and help with basic living activities. They typically do the following: Clean and bathe patients or residents, Help patients use the toilet and dress, Turn, reposition, and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs, Listen to and record patients’ health concerns and report that information to nurses, Measure patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature, Serve meals and help patients eat.