Table 1. Open in new tab Differences...

Table 1.

Differences between nannies, caregivers and nurses in China

Concept	Defining characteristic
Nannies (‘bao mu’)	Nannies often require limited to no certified training in caregiving, and depending on the workforce agency they associate with, some may have never been validated via rigorous background checks as well.
Caregivers (‘hu gong’)	Caregivers or formal caregivers often refer to people who have either received formal—and oftentimes certified—training or have accumulated substantial experience in caregiving, and often work at hospitals to address patients and their family members’ caring needs.
Nurses (‘hu shi’)	Nurses are required by law to have formal training and (re)certification before they are allowed to work, to ensure that their health and caring practices are in line with (inter)national standards and set guidelines.

Concept	Defining characteristic
Nannies (‘bao mu’)	Nannies often require limited to no certified training in caregiving, and depending on the workforce agency they associate with, some may have never been validated via rigorous background checks as well.
Caregivers (‘hu gong’)	Caregivers or formal caregivers often refer to people who have either received formal—and oftentimes certified—training or have accumulated substantial experience in caregiving, and often work at hospitals to address patients and their family members’ caring needs.
Nurses (‘hu shi’)	Nurses are required by law to have formal training and (re)certification before they are allowed to work, to ensure that their health and caring practices are in line with (inter)national standards and set guidelines.