9 Nursing Assistant Resume Examples for 2024

Creating a strong resume as a nursing assistant is essential to landing a good job in healthcare. This article gives examples of effective resumes and offers strategic advice. Learn how to highlight clinical skills, patient care experience, and certification details. We will also discuss the proper format and language that appeal to employers. Make your resume work for you.

  Compiled and approved by Marie-Caroline Pereira
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for nursing assistants.

  • Show Impact With Numbers: Good resumes use numbers to show impact, like reducing patient wait times by 20%, handling 15 patients per shift, cutting error rates by 30%, and administering medications to 25 patients daily.

  • Include The Right Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned in the job description. Some popular ones are vital sign monitoring, patient hygiene, charting, phlebotomy, infection control. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Certifications: It's key to list any licenses or certificates. Sample phrases: Certified Nursing Assistant, CPR certified, First Aid trained.

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Where to place your education

As a nursing assistant, your education is critical to your role. If you are new to the workforce or have recently finished your nursing studies, you should list your education at the top of your resume. This will help hiring managers see your qualifications right away. Make sure to include any certifications such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or any relevant training you've received.

If you have been working as a nursing assistant or in a related field and have built up experience, your education should follow your professional experience on your resume. In these cases, your hands-on experience can say more about your skills than your formal education. Always keep the content focused and relevant, which in your case, means highlighting any specialties or areas of healthcare you are trained in.

Highlight certifications

Nursing assistants should list any certifications, such as CPR or First Aid, prominently. These are crucial qualifications that healthcare employers look for.

Experience with electronic medical records (EMR) is also valuable. Mention any software platforms you are proficient in, as this skill is highly regarded in the industry.

Ideal resume length

When you're applying for a position as a nursing assistant, keep your resume to one page. This is especially true if you have less than 10 years of experience. Your resume needs to show that you can communicate your background effectively and efficiently. If you have more experience that is relevant and important, two pages are acceptable.

Focus on including recent and relevant experiences that highlight your skills in patient care and teamwork. Make sure important details like certifications and special skills are easy to find. If you have trouble fitting your information on one page, consider editing less critical items or choose a layout that uses space wisely. Remember, readability is important, so avoid tiny fonts or margins just to cram more in. It's better to present clear, concise information.

Show patient care skills

Include specific examples of your patient care skills, such as assisting with daily activities or monitoring vital signs. These details show your hands-on experience.

References from previous roles in healthcare can also strengthen your resume. Mention them briefly and note they are available upon request to prove your competency in a clinical setting.

Beat the resume scanner

When you apply for a job as a nursing assistant, your resume might first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To help you get past the ATS and into the hands of a hiring manager, follow these tips:

  • Use keywords from the job posting, like 'patient care' or 'medical terminology.' This matches your resume with what the job is looking for.
  • Include specific certifications such as 'CPR certified' or 'Certified Nursing Assistant' as these are often searched for by the ATS.

Make sure your resume is clear and simple. Use a standard font and format. Complex designs can confuse the ATS. Remember, a resume that the computer can read easily is one step closer to getting you an interview.

Personalize your professional skills

To stand out, tailor your resume to show you're a good match for a nursing assistant role. Read the job posting carefully and make your experience look relevant. Show how your skills will help in daily nursing tasks.

  • Highlight patient care activities you've done, like taking vital signs or assisting with mobility.
  • Emphasize soft skills such as empathy and strong communication, critical in health care settings.
  • If you have certifications, like a CPR certification, mention them to show you are prepared for emergencies.

Key skills for nursing aides

When you're putting together your resume, remember that certain skills are crucial for nursing assistants. Here's a list of skills you may want to include if they match your experience.

  • Basic patient care
  • Medical terminology
  • CPR certification
  • First aid
  • Vital signs monitoring
  • Electronic health records (EHR)
  • Infection control
  • Patient bathing and grooming
  • Feeding assistance
  • Mobility aid

You don't need to include all these skills. Pick the ones that best show your expertise. Place them in a dedicated 'Skills' section on your resume. This helps with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which employers use to scan resumes. The ATS looks for specific keywords related to the job, so including relevant skills is important.

Remember to mention any certifications, like CPR or first aid, which are often required. Also, if you have experience with EHR software, make sure to note it. These details can set you apart from others.

Showcase leadership growth

If you've taken on leadership roles or received promotions, it's important to highlight this in your resume. These details show potential employers that you are capable of taking on more responsibility and have grown in your field. Even if you're not sure how to present this, think about times when you took the lead in projects or were recognized for your work.

  • Example: 'Promoted to senior nursing assistant after consistently demonstrating strong leadership in patient care coordination.'
  • Example: 'Elected by peers to represent the nursing assistant team in monthly inter-departmental meetings.'

Remember to use simple terms to describe your leadership experiences. For instance, if you trained new staff, you can say, 'Trained 5 new assistants to follow health and safety protocols.' This shows that you were trusted to guide others. If you helped to improve something, like reducing patient wait times, mention it. For example, 'Contributed to a new patient scheduling system that decreased wait times by 20%.' This proves you can lead in making positive changes.

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