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How to Format a CNA Resume
If you want to advance your career as a certified nurse assistant, pump up your resume with the correct format. The proper format guides hiring managers straight to their most outstanding qualities, whether extensive work experience or impressive skills.
If you have 10+ years as a certified nurse assistant, the chronological resume is the format for you because it highlights your long work history.
For fresh graduates or those new to the nursing field with less than three years of experience, a functional resume shifts the employer’s attention to your skills, knowledge, and volunteer work.
However, mid-level candidates with a work history between three and nine years can benefit from a hybrid/combination resume.
1. Candidate A - Hybrid Resume
Candidate Info
- 4 years in the workforce
- 4 years at this job
Work Experience
Certified Nurse Assistant, Los Angeles Community Hospital
February 2019 - present, East Los Angeles, CA
- Cares for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, physical disability, and those undergoing post-operative recovery and convalescents.
- Takes vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, and blood sugar.
- Monitor patients' intake of oral medications as directed by physician or nurse, and note that time and amount are given.
2. Candidate B - Functional Resume
Candidate Info
- 3 years in workforce
- 11 months at this job
- HS High School Diploma
Professional Skills
Patient care
- Assists with personal tasks such as dressing and bathing.
- Participates with patients in leisure activities and transportation so that they can remain engaged in their communities.
- Ensures patients can have an excellent quality of life by providing nutritious home meals.
Nutritional Services Skills
- Prepares and serves food or feeds patients needing assistance and recorded food or liquid intake and output.
- Improves their food and exercise habits by planning according to their needs.
- Assists nursing staff with providing vitamins and supplements as a CNA when needed.
CNA Resume Samples
No results found
Candidate Info
years in workforce
months at this job
High School Diploma
High School Diploma
Cna
Provided one-on-one service to patients in a hospital facility.
- Cared for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, physical disability, those undergoing post-operative recovery and convalescents.
- Took and recorded vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, and blood sugar
- Monitored patients' intake of oral medications as directed by physician or nurse, and made notation of time and amount given. Cleaned rooms, changed bed linens, and attended to patients' comfort and cleanliness
- Turned bedfast patients to avoid bedsores or gave enemas, douches, massages, alcohol rubs and compresses.
- Prepared and served food or fed patients needing assistance, and recorded food or liquid intake and output.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Nursing Assistant
Health Unit Coordinator/ CNA
Maintained patient medical records from admission to discharge, following prescribed procedures.
- Coordinated employee/company activities within appropriate budgets.
- Provided telephone support on 12-Line system, relaying information to appropriate personnel.
- Organized computerized inventory of all parts, supplies, and products.
- Maintained inventory of patient chargeable and non-chargeable supplies for the unit.
- Assisted nursing staff with providing patient care as a CNA when needed.
- Created, organized, and set up an information center for manuals and schematics. Result: Better access to needed information, and less time searching for it.
- Employee of the month 2012
Candidate Info
years in workforce
months at this job
Education
Education
Cna
Companion/CNA
- Assisted with personal tasks such as dressing and bathing.
- Provided clean and safe homes for patients.
- Participated with patient in leisure activities and transportation so that they can remain engaged in their communities.
- Oversaw medication and patient vital signs under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.
- Ensured patient was able to have a great quality of life by providing nutritious home meals
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Medical Billing And Coding
Nursing
Travel And Tourism
Cna
Coordinate training support requirements
- Train new hires for coordinated care which aligns with agency policies
- Complete physical, psychological, emotional and environmental reviews of assigned clients
- Develop plan of action with assigned client based on identified needs and recommend and/or coordinate interventions that may include information, education, resources and referrals.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Nursing Assistant
CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
Took TPR, vital signs, and blood pressure
- Assisted residents in bathing, nail care, mouth care, hair car, feeding and toileting
- Helped licensed nursing staff with catheterizations and enemas
- Recorded patients’ intake and output
- Transported and ambulated patients
- Changed linen and collected soiled laundry
- Emptied and changed catheter drainage bags
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Customer Service
Cna
I provide hands on nursing care to patients, residents, clients and customers in a variety of health care settings. I typically provide assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and oral care to people who cannot do these tasks alone.
- Maintained a child-friendly environment.
- Maintained a child-friendly environment by allowing frequent access to outdoor activities.
- Engaged with children individually to meet their emotional and physical needs.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
High School Diploma
Certified Nurse Assistant
Cna
Helped clients with activities of daily living, including feeding, bathing, physical movements.
- Distributed medications to patients and kept record of patient's vitals.
- Ensured clients safety.
- Kept patient's rooms and areas clean and livable.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
months at this job
High School Diploma
Cna
CNA Level 1
- Assist with activities of daily living
- Documentation of ADL's performed
- Assist with restorative care
- Obtain vital signs
- Communicate care plan with residents and family of residents
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Medical Assisting
Cna
- Assist patients with ADLs such as feeding, mouth care, grooming, shaving, and incontinence care
- Assist nurse with care of residents
- Measure and record patient vital signs
- Assist with restorative care
- Transport residents to appointments
- Build a relaxing environment for resident and family members
Candidate Info
years in workforce
year at this job
GED
Cna
Follow residents care plans
- Encourage residents to do there ADL's
- Followed the residents turning data sheets
- Take residents to the bathroom every 2 hours or as needed
Candidate Info
years in workforce
year at this job
High School Diploma
Medical Assistant
Cna
Providing transportation to grocery store and doctor appointments.
- Bathing, dressing, and preparing meals pertaining to their diets
- Clearing walkways, light house cleaning
- Assist patient while walking, sit to stand, and operating using Hoyer lifts
Candidate Info
years in workforce
months at this job
High School Diploma
Nursing
Cna
Provides patients' personal hygiene by giving bedpans, urinals, baths, backrubs, shampoos, and shaves; assisting with travel to the bathroom; helping with showers and baths.
- Provides for activities of daily living by assisting with serving meals, feeding patients as necessary; ambulating, turning, and positioning patients; providing fresh water and nourishment between meals.
- Provides adjunct care by administering enemas, douches, nonsterile dressings, surgical preps, ice packs, heat treatments, sitz and therapeutic baths; applying restraints.
- Maintains patient stability by checking vital signs and weight; testing urine; recording intake and output information.
Candidate Info
years in workforce
months at this job
Cna
- Assists with personal hygiene: showering, shaving, clothing etc.
- Fed residents; Answer call bells; Transport to other units
- Toileting; Charting daily ADL's and meal consumptions
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Nursing
Cna
- Traveled to different nursing home location sites.
- Vital signs and personal care
- Hospice, psyche, telemetry and critical care etc.
- Assist with mechanical lift
Candidate Info
years in workforce
years at this job
Human Resource Management
Cna
Caring for the residents needs on a daily basis
- Charting the residents behaviors
- Taking residents to appointments
- Spending quality time with the residents
CNA Resume Success Stories
CNA Resume FAQ
What is a certified nurse assistant?
A certified nurse assistant, or CNA, assists patients with healthcare needs. They work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse.
A day in the life of a certified nurse assistant can include:
Some of their responsibilities include
- Assisting patients with mobility
- Helping patients with personal hygiene
- Assessment of patients’ food intake
- Checking vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate
- Answering patient calls
- Stocking supplies
- Transporting patients
- Taking care of wounds
What are the top skills needed for a certified nurse assistant resume?
Working as a certified nurse assistant comes with unique challenges. Master these top four nursing assistant skills for 2023:
- Compassion
- Attentive to detail
- Medical ethics
- Adaptability
As a nursing assistant, you are a part of the patient’s recovery. This is a rewarding career, especially when you are directly responsible for a patient’s rehabilitation and well-being.
What is the difference between a certified nurse assistant and a medical assistant?
A certified nurse assistant provides support to nurses. Medical assistants, however, work directly under the supervision of doctors to assist them as needed.
A nursing assistant helps patients with basic needs, mobility, nutrition, and hygiene. On the other hand, medical assistants help doctors conduct exams, prepare examination rooms, or administer vaccines. Their duties can include updating patient medical records and administering medications.
CNA Duties and Responsibilities
CNAs have many duties depending on the type of facility in which they work. However, most share several essential responsibilities:
Assist Patients with Daily Tasks CNAs provide assistance to patients with everyday tasks. This can include delivering patient meals to hospital or care facility rooms, helping patients to dress, use the restroom, or groom themselves. CNAs determine the best way to help their patients, checking if they need anything to keep them comfortable and healthy.
Assess and Record Patient Vital Signs During intake and throughout a patient's stay, CNAs monitor and record the patient's vital signs using a variety of medical technologies. These primarily consist of checking the patient's pulse, breathing patterns, and blood pressure to determine whether they are within acceptable levels. Depending on the facility, a CNA may also be approved to draw a patient's blood for further testing.
Maintain Patient Rooms CNAs are responsible for cleaning and organizing patient and examination rooms. This can include changing linens on a patient's bed, cleaning areas where fluids may have spilled, and ensuring that the patient and doctors have everything they need on hand at all times. For examination rooms, this may include restocking supplies, such as gloves, and following proper disposal methods for potentially hazardous materials.
Prepare and Clean Medical Equipment In many healthcare facilities, CNAs prepare and clean medical equipment that doctors and nurses use for procedures and patient care. This can include specialized machinery and tools that are used throughout the facility. CNAs also maintain clean facilities, preventing infection by sterilizing equipment before and after use, maintaining use records, and ensuring that items are properly stored between uses.
Observe Patient Conditions and Behaviors CNAs work closely with patients every day, contributing to long- and short-term treatment by carefully observing patients' health and wellness from day to day. These observations include overall patient health, recovery progress after a procedure, and reactions to treatment. Additionally, CNAs update patient records to reflect new information and report any changes or potential health issues to doctors and nurses.
Communicate with Patients and Care Providers Because CNAs spend a significant amount of time with patients, they frequently communicate with patients, doctors, and patient representatives. These communications may fall under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), so CNAs need to follow procedures regarding patient confidentiality while maintaining a flow of helpful information between concerned parties.
CNA Skills and Qualifications
CNAs work with patients day to day, supporting their health and wellbeing at a variety of healthcare facilities. CNAs typically have completed vocational training, achieved certification, and possess the following skills:- Medical assessment - during patient intake and continued care, CNAs assess patients' vital signs and other health indicators
- Patient care - exceptional patient care skills and bedside manner are important as CNAs interact with patients frequently to provide physical, mental, and emotional support and contribute to ongoing care efforts
- Attention to detail - CNAs interact with and observe patients to find out about health changes and symptoms to report to doctors and nurses
- Critical thinking - CNAs possess the ability to make rapid decisions and changes to care plans and routines in response to changing patient circumstances
- Communication skills - CNAs interact with patients, doctors, nurses, and patients' families to provide daily care and updates on health and wellness
CNA Education and Training
Generally, CNAs complete vocational training, typically at a community college or vocational school. Many hospitals and nursing homes also offer certification programs, which provide further opportunities for hands-on training and practice. Additionally, CNAs have to pass licensing and certification examinations, which vary from state to state. There are many opportunities for on-the-job-training as CNAs gain familiarity with policies, procedures, and best practices.
CNA Salary and Outlook
While CNAs' earnings can vary depending on the setting in which they work, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides helpful salary guidelines. As of May 2017, the BLS found that nursing assistants earned a median annual salary of $27,520. The lowest-paid 10 percent of workers earned less than $20,680 per year, while the highest-paid earned more than $38,630. The BLS expects employment for nursing assistants to grow at a faster-than-average rate of 10 percent between 2016 and 2026, particularly in long-term care facilities.
Helpful Resources
If you're interested in a career as a CNA, we found several resources on the web to help you take the next steps:
National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) - CNAs may join this professional organization to keep up with industry developments, connect with other nursing professionals, and access educational and professional development resources.
CNA Exam Secrets Study Guide: CNA Test Review for the Certified Nurse Assistant Exam - Read this book to prepare for the CNA exam, with sample questions that cover the major responsibilities of CNAs.
Certified Nursing Assistant Guide - This Nurse.org post provides an in-depth exploration of the CNA's role, with a focus on the differences between a CNA and medical assistant (MA), along with career prep information.
Mosby's Textbook for Nursing Assistants - This book by Sheila A. Sorrentino and Leighann Remmert provides a thorough look at the responsibilities of a CNA and is packed with visual illustrations and practice scenarios for core concepts.
