7 Certified Nursing Assistant Resume Examples for 2024

As a hiring manager, I know what makes a resume for certified nursing assistants catch attention. This article provides examples and advice to shape yours for success. It covers essential certifications, experience, and skills that employers seek. You'll learn how to present your qualifications clearly and effectively, ensuring your resume reflects the strong candidate you are in the healthcare field.

  Compiled and approved by Liz Bowen
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in top-notch certified nursing assistant resumes.

  • Quantifiable Achievements: The best resumes show impact with numbers. They include patients assisted daily, medication errors reduced, efficiency improvements, and attendance records. Numbers help you show clear contributions.

  • Relevant Hard Skills: Include skills you have that match the job description. Popular ones are patient care, medical terminology, vital signs monitoring, wound care, and emergency response. Choose skills that you are strong in and are relevant to the job.

  • Industry Trends: Stay updated with trends like electronic health records proficiency. Show you can adapt to changes and tools in healthcare.

Education placement strategy

As a certified nursing assistant, if you are fresh from school or have recently gained certification, show your education at the top of your resume. This tells the hiring manager right away about your formal training and readiness for the job. For experienced workers, list your work history first, but make sure to include any recent advanced training or relevant education.

Include the name of the institution, the type of certificate or degree you earned, and the year you completed it. If you hold certifications like Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), these are also very important to list. They show you are prepared for emergency situations, which is critical for healthcare roles.

Highlighting patient care skills

In your resume, make sure to highlight your direct patient care skills. For a certified nursing assistant, skills like taking vital signs, assisting with daily living activities, and supporting patient hygiene are essential. Use action words like 'assisted,' 'monitored,' and 'supported' to show your hands-on experience.

Include any specialized experience, such as working with elderly patients or those with disabilities. This displays a range of abilities that can set you apart in the healthcare field. Tailor your resume to show these strengths, as they are uniquely valued in nursing assisting roles.

Ideal resume length

Keep your resume to one page. This is true for most certified nursing assistants, especially if you have less than ten years of experience. A one-page resume makes it easy for the hiring manager to see your skills and experience without needing to flip pages. It shows you can communicate your background clearly and directly.

If you have more than ten years of experience or several key positions, you may extend to two pages. Only include information that is relevant to nursing assisting. Older or unrelated roles can be removed to save space.

Emphasizing compassionate care

Compassion is key for a certified nursing assistant. In your resume, show examples of how you provide good, compassionate care. Mention any awards or recognition you received for patient care. This can include employee of the month or compliments from patient surveys.

Also, if you have received training in areas like dementia care or palliative care, make sure this is clearly listed. Such specialized training demonstrates that you are equipped to handle sensitive situations with care and empathy, which is vital in this profession.

Beat the resume bots

When you apply for a job as a certified nursing assistant, your resume might first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To get past this, you need to make your resume ATS-friendly.

  • Use a simple format with clear headings. For example, write 'work experience' or 'skills' at the top of each section.
  • Include keywords from the job description. Look for skills or tasks like 'patient care' or 'vital signs monitoring' and put them in your resume.

Remember, you want the computer to see you have the right skills for the job. Keep it simple and clear.

Personalize your experience

You need a resume that shows your specific skills as a certified nursing assistant. Give details that prove you can do the job well. Use clear language to help employers see your fit for the role fast.

  • For job duties, use phrases like monitored vital signs or provided patient care to show hands-on experience.
  • If you have led small teams or trained new staff, mention supervised junior CNAs or conducted training sessions.
  • When changing careers, match past jobs to nursing tasks. For example, if you managed schedules, say coordinated care plans to show planning skills.
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