Certified Nursing Assistant Resume Examples in 2023

Certified Nursing Assistant Resume Examples

Years of Experience

Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Certified Nursing Assistant Resumes

It’s important to understand the right key skills and action verbs to include in a CNA resume. Recruiters spend just a few seconds glancing at each application, so you need to use relevant keywords that let the recruiter know you’re qualified for the job. Many employers also use automated screening systems, which scan your resume and look for specific words and phrases. Including these key proficiencies and action verbs in your CNA resume can help you make it past the initial screening and improve your chances of landing an interview.

Tips for Writing a Better Certified Nursing Assistant Resume

Showcase Your Experience Delivering Compassionate and Empathetic Care

As a certified nursing assistant, you’ll be aiding patients with the activities of daily living (ADLS) on a frequent basis. Hospitals value candidates who can provide compassionate care and maintain the personal dignity of patients during treatment and recovery. In the example below, the candidate highlights key examples from their career that demonstrate their ability to provide empathetic care and build positive relationships with patients:

• Delivered quality care to patients in the oncology and orthopedic units, including activities of daily living (ADLs), bathing, nutrition, and emotional support
• Assisted patients with toileting, bathing, eating, and other activities
• Treated and dressed wounds caused by radiation treatment to promote healing and reduce the risk of infection
• Supported physicians during bone-marrow biopsies by safely repositioning patients and setting up medical equipment

Highlight Specific Areas of Medical Knowledge

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) resumes often run the risk of feeling repetitive and generic. Oftentimes there’s only a limited number of ways you can describe your daily job responsibilities within the healthcare field. That being said, you should try and feature specific areas of medical knowledge to paint a clearer picture of your professional experience. In the example below, the candidate highlights their career working in surgical and intensive care units, which will help the hiring manager better understand their unique story:

Profile

A Lead CNA with 10+ years of experience delivering patient-centered care in high volume surgical and intensive care units. A proven track record of treating critically ill patients with dignity and compassion and providing emotional support to families.

How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for certified nursing assistants, also known as CNAs, nursing assistants, or patient care assistants, are projected to grow by 5% — an increase of nearly 65,000 jobs — from 2021 to 2031. As of 2020, the United States has approximately 73 million baby boomers, many of whom have at least one chronic health condition that requires ongoing medical care. The increased demand for health care is expected to create more employment opportunities for certified nursing assistants.

Hiring managers often receive hundreds of applications for a single opening, but they may only have time to interview a handful of applicants. Aligning your resume with the job description is essential for making it through the screening process and ensuring that your application receives the attention it deserves.

If you’re not sure which skills and experience to feature, take a look at the job description. CNA job descriptions typically contain important keywords that let you know which qualifications to highlight in your resume. Many of these keywords appear in the first few lines of the job posting. Review the job description carefully, highlight relevant keywords, and use those keywords in your resume.