How To Write a Patient Care Assistant Resume
Patient care assistants play an important role in inpatient and outpatient care delivery, and your resume should showcase the strongest aspects of your medical experience to secure interview opportunities. Employers will want your ability to provide empathic care to diverse patient populations. This guide provides valuable tips and insights to help you translate your career into a strong, accomplishment-driven resume.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Create a profile by summarizing your patient care assistant qualifications
Grab the attention of prospective employers by building a dynamic professional profile. Start with an opening sentence that details your job title, years of experience, and three to four medical skills that align with the job description. Provide a high-level overview of your career focusing on patient-centered care, patient advocacy, and clinical specializations. Emphasize your ability to positively impact patients, clinical teams, and organizations.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Profile
A patient care assistant with four years of experience specializing in patient-centered care, diversity and inclusion, and team collaboration. A strong history of delivering empathetic care to various populations and building relationships with patients to foster positive outlooks.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Profile
A patient care assistant with two years of experience, specializing in patient communication, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, patient assessment, and activities of daily living (ADLs). A strong history of collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to provide quality patient-centered care.
2. Outline your patient care assistant experience in a compelling list
Your professional experience section should capture key achievements from throughout your medical career. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible to help your bullet points stand out. Leverage metrics and numbers to paint a clearer picture of your professional experience and differentiate yourself from the applicant pool.
For example, if you worked collaboratively with nursing teams to improve patient satisfaction, provide clinical data for the increase. If you worked in a large, high-volume hospital, include the number of beds or the nurse-to-patient ratio. Establishing a sense of scope for your accomplishments will maximize your chances of landing the interview.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Professional Experience
Patient Care Assistant, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
June 2019 – present
- Deliver compassionate and empathetic care to diverse patients based on emotional, spiritual, and physical needs in a hospital with over 300 beds, including building relationships and providing emotional support to drive positive outlooks
- Support RNs and the nurse manager in executing continuous improvement efforts to improve patient flow and triage amidst a 92% occupancy during COVID-19
- Monitor patient pain levels and vital signs, alert nurses to changes in patient condition and medical emergencies, and support ADLs
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Professional Experience
Patient Care Assistant, St. Mark’s Hospital, Miami, FL
September 2021 – present
- Provide support to patients for ADLs, including basic hygiene, food intake, comfort, catheter installation, wound care, and dressing
- Communicate with empathy and compassion, resolve high-stress situations using crisis management skills, and ensure the safety of combative patients during transport
- Monitor patient symptoms, procure patient samples for testing, organize and transport laboratory specimens, and ensure safe handling of hazardous materials
3. Outline your patient care assistant-related certifications and education
To pursue a career as a patient care assistant, you’ll need to obtain the proper certifications.
Although a college degree is not required for this role, you’ll have to complete a training program to become a Certified Patient Care Assistant (CPCA) before you can work in a clinical setting.
As you advance in your career, consider pursuing a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or certified patient care technician (CPCT), as these certifications will allow you to play an even larger role in health care delivery.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Associate of Applied Science (A.A,S.) Medical Assisting
- Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | September 2014 – June 2016
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name] (Awarding Organization), [Completion Year]
Example
- CPCA, National Healthcareer Association (NHA), 2016
- Basic Life Support (BLS), American Hospital Association (AHA), 2016
4. Make a list of your patient care assistant-related skills and proficiencies
Employers rely on applicant tracking system (ATS) to identify qualified candidates based on specific keyword parameters. If your resume fails to meet certain benchmarks during the initial ATS scan, your application may be rejected automatically before it reaches the hiring manager. To mitigate this risk, tactically integrate health care terminology and skills from the job description directly into your resume. Unfortunately, some postings will be more detailed than others, so we’ve compiled a list of popular ATS keywords for patient care assistant positions to help build your document:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| ADLs | Assisted devices |
| BLS | Clinical operations |
| Communication | Diversity and inclusion |
| Electronic medical records (EMR) | Empathetic care |
| HIPAA | Medication administration |
| Mobilization | Patient advocacy |
| Patient assessment | Patient-centered care |
| Patient discharge | Patient intake |
| Pediatric care | Phlebotomy |
| Physical examinations | Wound care |
How To Pick the Best Patient Care Assistant Resume Template
When selecting your template, prioritize structure and organization over aesthetics. Use a format that allows the hiring manager to scan your resume for key qualifications and achievements easily, so opt for a single-column, top-down approach. Avoid flashy colors and bulky graphics, as strong visual elements can often distract the reader from your content. Choose a template that keeps the reader focused on your experience rather than visual elements.
Patient Care Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Hideo Araki
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Carpenter Street, Philadelphia, PA, 12345
Profile
A Patient Care Assistant with three years of experience, specializing in patient-centered care, continuous improvement, and ADLs. A strong history of delivering quality healthcare services to patients and collaborating with nursing teams to enhance clinical operations.
Professional Experience
Patient Care Assistant, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
June 2020 – Present
- Coordinate with registered nurses to deliver patient-guided care services to diverse populations in a high-volume acute care environment with over 500+ beds
- Provide support for ADLs with compassion and understanding, build relationships with patients, gather medical history, and monitor pain levels and vital signs
- Support initiatives to improve efficiency and communication for patient intake, transport, and appointment scheduling, resulting in a 5% increase in patient satisfaction scores
Patient Care Assistant, Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
August 2019 – June 2020
- Supported nursing teams in gathering patient data, documenting symptoms, and implementing treatment under the direction of the attending physician
- Oversaw mobilization of patients using assistive devices and techniques, including passive bed exercises and mobilization training
- Sanitized rooms in accordance with hospital policies and Covid-19 safety protocols
Certifications
- Certified Nursing Assistant, Pennsylvania Department of Public Health, 2019
- Basic Life Support (BLS), 2019
Education
High School Diploma
Benjamin Franklin High School, Philadelphia, PA September 2015 – June 2019
Key Skills
- Patient-Centered Care
- Mobilization Techniques
- Data Collection
- Communication
- Relationship Building
Frequently Asked Questions: Patient Care Assistant Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for patient care assistant resumes?-
Action verbs can add a dynamic and engaging element to your writing. Many job seekers mistakenly use passive language to describe their career experience, often framing impressive achievements as mundane job responsibilities. To maximize the impact of your bullet points, pay close attention to what verb you choose to start each sentence. Avoid generic phrasing such as “responsible for” and “worked” in favor of verbs such as “managed,” “implemented,” or “delivered.” Below, you’ll find a list of action verbs you can use to build your professional experience section:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Communicated |
| Conducted | Coordinated |
| Collaborated | Delivered |
| Diagnosed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Identified | Interfaced |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Performed | Provided |
| Resolved | Supported |
| Treated | |
How do you align your resume with a patient care assistant job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care-related occupations are expected to grow by 13% between 2021 and 2031. This equates to over 1.9 million new openings annually. Although opportunities are widely available for health care workers on the open market, you’ll still need to align your resume with the job description to make a positive impression on the hiring manager.
As you build your document, carefully evaluate both the job postings and the organizations you’re applying to. Performing preliminary research on the company’s culture can help you identify key clinical aspects to highlight on your document and give you a competitive edge during the job search. For example, if the hospital mentions that it prides itself on patient advocacy, provide content highlighting how you’ve strived to support patient rights throughout your career. By tailoring your resume to the needs and cultures of individual organizations, you’ll maximize your chances of securing the interview.
What is the best patient care assistant resume format?-
As a patient care assistant, opt for a reverse chronological resume format in most instances. This ensures your most recent and relevant experience is placed towards the top of your document. It’s best to avoid functional resume formats, even at the entry level, as skill-based resumes aren’t effective in telling your story. If you lack a robust work history, highlight the experience you’ve garnered while completing your CPCA program. Be sure to reorder professional experience, skills, and certification sections based on your individual needs.
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A matching cover letter can increase your odds of landing the interview. To maximize the value of your document, focus on tailoring your cover letter towards individual hospitals and health care organizations. In your middle paragraphs, mention something specific about the organization’s reputation, mission statement, or culture. This will show hiring managers that you’ve taken the time to research the hospital for applying. For more insights, visit our patient-care technician cover letter guide.
