How To Write a Nursing Assistant Resume

As a nursing assistant, your resume should mention the populations you have worked with, your health care experience, and whether you have handled activities of daily living (ADLs). Follow the steps below and use the examples to guide you.

  • Entry-level
  • Mid-career
  • Senior-level
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1. Summarize your nursing assistant qualifications in a dynamic profile

The profile goes at the top of your resume and is the first thing the hiring director sees. It should clearly state if you’re certified as a nursing assistant and how much experience you have in the health care field. This is also a good place to mention if you enjoy working with specific populations, such as children or seniors, and what skills you have obtained, such as assisting with ADLs or educating patients on maintaining their health.

Senior-Level Profile Example


A certified nursing assistant with over 11 years of experience delivering quality patient care in a diverse range of health care settings. A proven track record of serving as a patient advocate and identifying opportunities to improve health care operations.

Entry-Level Profile Example


A nursing assistant with three years of clinical experience specializing in patient care, ADLs, communication, and team collaboration. Adept at delivering compassionate care to elderly populations and maintaining patient dignity.

2. Showcase your nursing assistant experience

For each position you list in the professional experience section, focus on what your responsibilities included and how you contributed to high-quality patient care. A hiring manager will be looking for how many patients you are used to providing care for during each shift, how you can work with the rest of the patient’s health care team, and what experience you have communicating with and relating to patients. Use numbers like the facility’s patient satisfaction rating to quantify your duties.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


Certified Nursing Assistant

Oak Tree Acres Retirement Village, San Diego, CA | December 2016 – present

  • Assist over 20 residents with ADLs, transport patients to meals and activities, and provide emotional and social support
  • Coordinate with the activity director to plan events, activities, and entertainment for elderly patients, including live music and theater as well as comedy
  • Build relationships with patients and plan activities and cognitive games to support quality of life for residents suffering from memory impairments and dementia

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example


Certified Nurse’s Aide

Right at Home, Miami, FL | July 2020 – present

  • Support patients with activities of daily living, including toileting, washing, and eating, achieving a 98.5% patient satisfaction rating
  • Carefully monitor bedbound patients and leverage pressure relief equipment to reduce incidents of bedsores in at-risk individuals
  • Observe and record patients’ vital signs and report changes to RNs using clinical knowledge to notice and report concerning results

3. Include nursing assistant-related education and certifications

Not all states require nursing assistants to be certified, but if yours does, you need a section on your resume listing your education and the date of your certification. If you have other education, you can also list this, even if it doesn’t pertain to the health care field. If you’re currently in school for nursing or another health care-related job, it’s a good idea to add this to your resume and note your expected graduation date.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Month and Year]

Example

  • Certified Nursing Assistant
  • CNA Training Institute, Sugar Land, TX | March 2013

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • Certified Nursing Assistant, State of California, 2009

4. List key skills and proficiencies for nursing assistant

Nursing assistants must operate seamlessly within a larger care team and are an important part of delivering high-quality patient care. Adding a key skills section to your resume allows you to work in more keywords and qualifications from the job description, which can help you get past applicant tracking systems. It shows the hiring manager you have the experience necessary for the job. If you need some ideas of what to include, this list can help.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Attention to detail Catheter care
Cultural competence Documentation and record keeping
Empathy and compassion End-of-life care
Feeding and nutrition Health promotion activities
Infection control Medical terminology
Medication management Mental health support
Mobility and transfers Monitoring vital signs
Patient education Patient transportation
Rehabilitation activities Teamwork
Upholding ethics and professionalism Wound care

How To Pick the Best Nursing Assistant Resume Template

Resume templates make it easier to create a high-quality resume quickly, and there are hundreds of templates for nursing assistants. When you’re deciding which one to use, look for templates that seem easy to skim and well-organized. It should be clear where your experience, education, and skills go in the template, and there should be enough white space left over so the text doesn’t look cramped. Approach your resume like you would documentation for a patient: avoid fancy fonts, distracting colors, or the inclusion of extra personal information like a headshot.

Nursing Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Entry-level
  • Mid-career
  • Senior-level

Mike Samuelson
(713) 789-0123
[email protected]
8730 Alamo Blvd, Houston, TX 65498

Profile

A Certified Nursing Assistant with eight years of experience, specializing in patient advocacy, clinical operations, and patient education. A proven track record of leading efforts to enhance the delivery of patient-centered care.

Professional Experience

Certified Nursing Assistant, Boxman & Associates Rehabilitation Center, Houston, TX
August 2016 – Present

  • Deliver patient-centered care for a rehabilitation center with 150+ patients, monitor vital signs, administer medication, and achieve a 95% patient satisfaction rating
  • Provide training to 10+ certified nursing assistants on clinical workflows, patient care standards, and relationship building techniques
  • Manage electronic medical records and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations
  • Educate patients and families on diagnosis and long-term outlook with empathy and compassion and provide emotional support

Certified Nursing Assistant, Pleasant Grove Senior Living, Sugar Land, TX
May 2013 – July 2016 

  • Provided nursing assistance to seniors in a long-term care facility and assisted residents with daily living activities, such as bathing and grooming
  • Deliver compassionate care to maintain patient dignity and ensure satisfaction
  • Maintain compliance with infection control and disease prevention regulations

Education

Certified Nursing Assistant
CNA TRAINING INSTITUTE, Sugar Land, TX, February 2013 – March 2013 

Licensed Practical Nurse
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Houston, TX, January 2021 – Present

Key Skills

  • Patient Transport
  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Vital Sign Monitoring
  • Wound Care
  • Medication Administration

Certifications

  • CPR Certified
  • BLS Certified
  • STNA Certified

Frequently Asked Questions: Nursing Assistant Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for nursing assistant resumes?-

Action verbs can amp up your resume, making it more engaging and turning your job duties into patient-focused accomplishments that increase your chances of getting an interview. But it’s not always easy to think of unique action verbs for every bullet. If you’re repeating the same words or feel like your language is lackluster, try these common action verbs for nursing assistant resumes below:

Action Verbs
Administered Assessed
Assisted Collaborated
Comforted Communicated
Coordinated Demonstrated
Discussed Documented
Educated Evaluated
Facilitated Inspected
Maintained Monitored
Planned Provided
Responded Supported
How do you align your resume with a nursing assistant job description?-

Creating a resume isn’t a one-and-done task. Every time you apply for a job, you need to tweak your resume to tailor it for that specific position. Incorporate qualifications and skills from the job description to increase the chances of your resume passing through applicant tracking systems and into human hands. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects openings for nursing assistants to continue to grow at an average rate, and taking the time to target your resume can give you an edge over the competition.

What is the best nursing assistant resume format?-

The right nursing assistant resume format depends on your level of experience and how well you fit what the job description is asking for. However, a traditional reverse chronological resume is generally a good choice. All hiring managers are familiar with this, making it easy to show your work history, education, and professional skills. If you’re worried you don’t have enough hands-on experience, highlight your coursework and skills from your nursing assistant training program below your profile.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume

Once you’ve created your resume, tailored it to the position, and given it a final once-over for spelling and grammar, you’re ready to move on to the cover letter. Including a cover letter with your resume makes it easier to explain why you’re a top candidate and gives you another chance to connect with the hiring manager. Look at these nursing assistant cover letter examples for ideas.

Frank Hackett headshot

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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