Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resume Example

Working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) is a rewarding, stimulating, and steady career.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNAs earn a median annual salary of $30,290, and the industry is projected to experience average growth through 2030.

The best CNA jobs can be competitive, so you need a resume that sets you apart from the competition.

Looking for a headstart? Our video walkthrough for creating an excellent nursing resume is one place to begin:

To build on the advice outlined in our video guide, find out how to make your resume superb with our CNA resume examples and writing tips below.

1. Highlight your hard & soft CNA resume skills

A career as a certified nursing assistant requires you to use a combination of hard and soft skills on a daily basis. Hard skills (also known as technical skills) are the CNA skills and knowledge that you learned during your training.

Soft skills are the personality traits and personal strengths that make you an asset at work, like positivity or excellent time management skills.

To impress hiring managers, feature a combination of both technical and soft CNA skills on your resume.

Hard skills

To effectively showcase your nursing hard skills on your resume, demonstrate how the practical knowledge and hands-on training you received help you provide excellent patient care.

For instance, this bullet point from a CNA resume work experience section covers types of care the candidate provided, creating context with positive results:

• Helped residents with daily hygiene, including showering; oral and peri care; incontinence care; and minimizing rashes, sores, and soiling.

Additionally, if you use specific hardware or software, include the names of the programs or tools on your resume. For example, this bullet neatly lists three tools the applicant uses:

• Transferred patients using gait belts, Hoyer lifts, and EasyStands as needed, ensuring patient safety and comfort.

Here’s a list of software and equipment that certified nursing assistants commonly use to highlight their CNA skills:

• Microsoft Office
• Medical administration software (MEDITECH and Epic Systems)
• Telemedicine software (Amwell and Zoom)
• Hoyer lifts
• EasyStand equipment
• Basic patient care and hygiene
• Vital sign measurement
• Medication administration
• Wound care
• Infection control
• Catheter care
• Oxygen therapy
• Mobility assistance
• Patient transfers and ambulation
• Basic life support and CPR
• Basic documentation and charting

Soft skills

As a certified nursing assistant, you interact with other health care professionals, patients, and family members of patients every day. So you need a strong set of soft skills on your certified nursing assistant resume, including the following:

• Interpersonal skills
• Teamwork
• Conflict Management
• Active listening
• Adaptability
• Calmness
• Patience
• Empathy
• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Physical stamina
• Stress management
• Problem solving
• Time management
• Organization

2. Write a standout CNA resume objective or summary

Ensure the hiring manager sees your best qualifications by putting them in a CNA resume objective or summary at the top of your resume.

A resume objective is a short paragraph that highlights your relevant nursing skills and career goals. The focus on skill set and future plans makes a resume objective ideal if you’re a recent vocational school graduate or entry-level CNA.

A resume summary explains how your most impressive career achievements fit your target care facility’s goals. Use a summary for your CNA resume if you have experience.

Here’s an example of an objective for a CNA resume with no experience, followed by a resume summary written by the same candidate later in their career:

Beginner CNA resume objective

Recently graduated certified nursing assistant with CPR certification and clinical experience. Passionate about caring for the elderly, brightening their days by expressing genuine interest in their lives while assisting them with daily activities. Seeking to enhance the Willow Brook Assisted Living environment with a positive attitude and skilled CNA care.

Experienced CNA resume summary

Reliable, caring certified nursing assistant with 6+ years of experience caring for elderly and vulnerable adults. Work well with bedridden, physically challenged, and memory-impaired residents. Friendly and compassionate, with excellent interpersonal communication skills. Discreet and confidential in all dealings with patients and staff. Achieved a 95% satisfaction rate with patients during my last tenure.

3. Quantify your accomplishments with hard numbers

Adding data to your CNA resume, particularly when you write your work experience section, adds depth to your accomplishments and demonstrates your ability to produce results that make your resume stand out.

For example, this candidate states the number of residents they cared for:

Assisted approximately 15 residents each shift with activities of daily living, ensuring they were on time for all meals and activities.

Also, if your actions resulted in a positive change in percentages, dollar amounts, or time, include that information on your resume. Here’s an example that’s sure to impress any hiring manager:

Reduced the number of daily patient calls by 10% by educating residents on proper call procedures and practices.

Quantifying your professional achievements like this on your resume shows employers the tangible benefits that you can offer if hired.

4. Draw attention to your certifications

As a certified nursing assistant, you’re responsible for the safety, health, and overall well-being of vulnerable individuals. To prove you have the necessary training for this position, you need to possess a valid Certified Nursing Assistant License as well as compliance training on OSHA and HIPPA regulations.

But just completing the certifications isn’t enough to get you a job. You also need to know how to list certifications on your resume properly. Failing to include the proper information could result in your application being rejected, but you can avoid that by:

• displaying your education and certifications in separate sections on your resume to make them easy for the hiring manager to find
• including the name of the certification, date of issue, the name of the organization that issued the certificate, and if necessary, the expiration date

If you’ve completed additional training or hold supplementary certifications relevant to a certified nursing assistant position, add them to your resume as well. The following are additional courses and certifications you may want to include on your resume:

• CPR/First Aid
• Caring for Seniors
• Disability Care Course