CNA Resume Example
A career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) typically involves providing patient care and assisting RNs/LPNs. For a successful certified nursing assistant (CNA) application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your certified nursing assistant (CNA) applications.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a CNA resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. You'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Read on to learn the tips Jobseeker careers experts recommend as the best for your CNA resume.
Key sections for a CNA resume
Although the content of a CNA resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same. If you're a candidate without much experience, you may wish to present your resume in a way that draws attention to your most valuable skills. These might not be in traditional work settings, so sections like education, projects, hobbies and skills can be more prominent.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header with Contact Details
A CNA resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Create a clear, well-structured header that acts as the headline of your resume. Use color accents and blocks to help this section stand out and catch the eye of the reader.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Alan Nelson
alan.nelson@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
7 Eccles Street, Dublin, OH
linkedin․com/in/alan–nelson123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for certified nursing assistant (CNA) roles.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your CNA resume summary.
Dedicated and compassionate healthcare professional with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and extensive experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Proven ability to provide high-quality patient care, collaborate effectively with medical teams, and maintain meticulous patient records. Skilled in delivering personalized care, managing daily living activities, and supporting nursing staff in various healthcare settings. Committed to enhancing patient well-being and delivering exceptional care
Healthcare professional with a background in nursing and experience in patient care roles. Worked in settings where I assisted with patient needs and collaborated with medical teams. Familiar with maintaining records and supporting daily activities. Focused on providing care and helping improve patient experiences
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for certified nursing assistant (CNA) roles. Whether your skills include ADLs support, attention to detail or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for certified nursing assistant (CNA) positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
How to list hard skills on your CNA resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a CNA resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Include around four or five key hard skills that are listed in the job description. These skills will help to convince the hiring manager that you're a good fit for the position.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective CNA resume hard skills list looks like.
- Vital signs monitoring
- ADLs support
- Infection control practices
Showcasing your best soft skills
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to certified nursing assistant (CNA) roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a certified nursing assistant resume.
- Communication skills
- Empathy and compassion
- Attention to detail
Education and Qualifications
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for certified nursing assistant (CNA) roles.
Opportunities as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your patient mobility assistance or vital signs monitoring.
Include any qualifications relevant to the role. For each, add the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), 2017 - 2020
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Certifications and Training
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Below you can find several examples of certifications for a certified nursing assistant resume:
- Basic Life Support, 2022
- CPR Certification, 2022
- First Aid Certification, 2022
Employment History
Next, list your relevant employment history and any key achievements that show you're suitable for a certified nursing assistant (CNA) position. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
Under each job entry, add several bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements. Consult the job description for a list of the key requirements for the role and make sure your work experience section showcases how you meet these requirements.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to certified nursing assistant (CNA) jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. See below for some good examples of what to include in your resume work experience section.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), January 2022 - Present
Caring Hands Healthcare Services, Jersey City
- Provided compassionate care to 30+ residents daily, ensuring adherence to individualized care plans and improving patient satisfaction scores by 20%
- Assisted in implementing a new electronic health records system, reducing documentation errors by 15% and increasing staff efficiency
- Trained and mentored 10 newly hired CNAs, enhancing team competency and contributing to a 10% decrease in staff turnover
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), January 2022 - Present
Caring Hands Healthcare Services, Jersey City
- Provided excellent care to residents, ensuring their needs were met and maintaining a positive environment
- Helped with various administrative tasks to improve workflow and support the team
- Supported new staff members, fostering a collaborative and efficient workplace culture
In the graphic above you can see a great example of what to avoid when writing your resume work experience section. Less effective resume work experience sections might take a more vague, descriptive approach to previous jobs. They focus on responsibilities and everyday duties rather than referencing career achievements and the value you've added for previous employers.
Expert Tip:
If you have limited formal experience, highlight other achievements, like completing training programs, certifications, or successful personal projects. (1) Present this information in a clear and concise format with easy-to-read sections and plenty of white space. (2)
Optional Information
As well as the main sections of a certified nursing assistant resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for certified nursing assistant (CNA) jobs.
Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Your hobbies and interests are useful for a certified nursing assistant resume if you want to show a different side to your personality, or to stand out among other candidates. They can also be valuable if you're a junior candidate without much relevant work experience. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
If you're lacking relevant certified nursing assistant (CNA) work experience, volunteer work can help to show you still have the relevant skills. Add your volunteer job title or role, the name of the organization, its location and the dates you were involved.
References
Although it's rare to include references on a CNA resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Before adding any referees to your resume, ask them for their assistance and prepare them for contact by the employer.
References can be provided upon request.
Best strong verbs for your a certified nursing assistant resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Assist
- Support
- Monitor
- Document
- Observe
- Communicate
- Reposition
- Clean
- Bathe
- Transport
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Sample resume for certified nursing assistant (CNA) positions
The CNA resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
7 Eccles Street, Dublin, OH
•
alan.nelson@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/alan–nelson123
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and extensive hands-on experience in patient care, including vital signs monitoring, assistance with daily living activities, and ensuring patient comfort. Proven ability to work collaboratively with healthcare teams to deliver high-quality care and support to diverse patient populations. Dedicated to providing compassionate and efficient care, leveraging a strong educational foundation and practical skills gained from previous CNA roles.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
2020
-2022
CareBridge Health Services (Long Beach)
- Provided compassionate care to over 50 patients daily, ensuring their comfort, hygiene, and well-being
- Successfully trained and mentored 10 new CNAs, improving team efficiency and patient care standards
- Managed accurate patient records, medication administration, and vital signs monitoring, contributing to a 20% increase in patient satisfaction
Vital signs monitoring
ADLs support
Infection control practices
Communication skills
Empathy and compassion
Attention to detail
Basic Life Support
CPR Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a CNA resume
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
- Create a positive impression with a well-written resume summary or objective that highlights your key strengths for certified nursing assistant (CNA) roles.
- Add each relevant job in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your current or most recent position and working back from there.
- Use a professional resume format with clear headings, a defined structure and consistent margins for optimum readability.
- Review your resume thoroughly and correct any errors before sending it, to avoid unnecessary harm to your chances.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't include irrelevant work experience in your resume because it takes up valuable space and is unlikely to improve your chances of success.
- Don't use overly complex formatting and layouts that can make your CNA resume harder to read, and less scannable for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- Don't use jargon or business-speak. It can make your resume appear clichéd and harder to read.
- Don't use passive language - steer away from phrases like 'I was asked to' and use action words instead.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. There are several things you can do when writing your CNA resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Follow these simple rules when writing your resume, to make sure it's ATS compliant:
- Choose a resume structure that matches the traditional, reverse-chronological layout or alternatively, the functional resume structure. This should make your resume more readable for ATS applications.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Using clear, simple headings makes it easier for an ATS application to scan your resume, as it can easily identify what's in each section of your document.
- Adopt a clean, unfussy design that gives your content enough white space to breathe. Use professional, readable fonts and subtle use of color and other design elements.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about a certified nursing assistant resume
Now that you know how to write a professional CNA resume, you might also want to learn how to write an accompanying cover letter that makes a similar impact.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
A full, formal cover letter follows a traditional letter-writing structure and format. Add your header, the recipient's address an use professional greetings and sign-offs. In your first paragraph, introduce yourself and confirm the role you're applying for, along with your reasons for applying. Next, outline your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to the certified nursing assistant (CNA) job description. Finish by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and adding a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to contact you for further information.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
For an experienced certified nursing assistant (CNA), the resume is an account of your achievements and the skills you've gained through your career. As an experienced candidate, your CNA resume might include a work experience section that goes back beyond the standard 10 to 15 years. This will give you the chance to highlight your extensive experience and achievements. Add any optional sections that reinforce your image as a knowledgeable, respected professional in your field. This might include awards and other recognition, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your certified nursing assistant (CNA) application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
See an example resume headline below:
- Aspiring Certified Nursing Assistant
- Dedicated and Compassionate Healthcare Professional
- Experienced Senior Certified Nursing Assistant
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Takeaways for your CNA resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. Jobseeker's expert-designed cover letter generator can help your applications make a strong first impression on hiring managers. Find detailed cover letter examples to complement your resume and get your application noticed.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
