Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resume Examples
Written By Nathan SotoCareer Expert & PR Specialist
Reviewed By Samuel JohnsSenior Content Editor & Certified Professional Resume Writer
Nathan Soto
Career Expert & PR Specialist
Nathan Soto is dedicated to providing practical guidance to job seekers, especially people with nonlinear career paths. Nathan’s articles and career advice have been featured on multiple platforms, including Forbes,...
After you're done, write a strong CNA cover letter to introduce yourself to employers.
CNA resume examples by experience level
Consider creating your resume from scratch or upload an existing resume for a refresh.
CNA resume template
Take the first step toward writing your CNA resume by combining the content below with one of our resume templates.
- Time management
- Documentation
- OSHA & HIPAA compliance
- Organization & prioritization
- Patient care
- Assist 15+ residents each shift with daily living activities, ensuring they’re on time for all meals and activities
- Provide social and emotional support to improve residents’ morale
- Establish rapport with team members, residents, and families
- Help residents with daily hygiene, including showering; oral and peri care; incontinence care; and minimizing rashes, sores, and soiling
- Support residents with field trips, arts and crafts, music, games, and reading activities
- Responded to 16+ patient calls per shift in a timely and efficient manner, determining need and providing care
- Observed physical and emotional changes, and reported patient conditions to nurses
- Transferred patients using Gait Belts, Hoyer Lifts, and EasyStands as needed, ensuring patient safety and comfort
- Followed LPN or RN instructions for range-of-motion activities for patients
- Certified Nursing Assistant License – Maryland Board of Nursing, 20XX
- CPR Certification – American Red Cross, 20XX
The top CNA skills and keywords
Hiring managers look for CNAs whose resumes align with the skills emphasized in their job ads.
Our research reveals that these keywords appear most often in CNA job descriptions:
We analyzed hundreds of real CNA job ads to find the top words and phrases to add to your resume.
Data
| Keyword | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|
| CNA certification | 96 | 942 |
| Nursing care | 75 | 739 |
| Patient care | 69 | 681 |
| Long-term care | 55 | 545 |
| Vital signs monitoring | 55 | 541 |
| Communication skills | 45 | 439 |
| Bathing and toileting | 43 | 427 |
| CPR/BLS | 37 | 368 |
| Resident care | 35 | 345 |
| Home health | 33 | 321 |
Role-specific CNA resume examples
We’ve got resume samples for every industry. Check out the additional certified nursing resume examples below to learn how to make a job-winning application for specific roles within the field:
Travel CNA resume
[Your Name]
[Your Address], New York, NY
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Compassionate Travel Certified Nursing Assistant with 5 years of experience in long-term care and rehabilitation settings. Skilled in providing exceptional care to patients of all ages suffering from various ailments. Known for maintaining accurate records and collaborating with healthcare teams to ensure patient dignity and provide emotional support.
- Infection control
- Electronic medical records
- Patient education
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
Travel CNA | Burlington, VT | May 20XX – December 20XX
- Delivered daily living assistance to over 120 patients per week in various long-term care and rehabilitation centers across Vermont and New Hampshire
- Monitored and documented vital signs for up to 30 patients daily, ensuring accuracy and timely EMR updates
- Adhered to infection control standards to prevent disease spread, exceeding compliance requirements
Nursing Assistant | Burlington, VT | August 20XX – April 20XX
- Provided compassionate care to patients, assisting with grooming, dressing, and bathing, ensuring patient comfort and respect
- Recorded patient data and health changes, achieving a 100% accuracy rate in patient documentation
- Collaborated effectively with a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement patient care plans
- Praised by medical staff for attention to detail and proactive approach to patient needs
Nurse Aide | Burlington, VT | August 20XX – April 20XX
- Assisted with daily patient care activities in a 50-bed rehabilitation facility, focusing on patients recovering from surgeries and severe injuries
- Engaged in the rehabilitation process by helping patients with prescribed therapeutic exercises and mobility training
- Managed medication schedules for 20+ patients
South Burlington High School | High School Diploma
Graduation Date: May 20XX
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) – Vermont Adult Career & Technical Education Association, 20XX
- CPR Certification – American Red Cross, 20XX
- AHS HIPAA Awareness Training – Vermont Agency of Human Services, 20XX
Why this example works
- Shows extensive work experience: Employers prioritize applicants with relevant CNA experience, so this resume puts the applicant’s work history section front and center.
- Uses hard numbers: By including data (for example, noting that they worked in a 50-bed facility), the candidate gives the reader a deeper understanding of their experience.
- Illustrates career progression: A unique timeline-style template emphasizes this CNA’s path to a travel role, from achieving their CNA to their most recent job.
Nurse aide resume
[Your Address] New York, NY
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
Dedicated Certified Nurse Aide with 3 years’ experience in long-term care facilities, specializing in geriatric care. Proficient in delivering high-quality care, supporting daily activities, and enhancing residents’ quality of life. Known for a compassionate approach and strong dedication to patient care, consistently meeting the needs of residents while adhering to safety protocols.
- Hoyer lifts
- Collaboration
- Catheter care
- Provide daily personal hygiene care, dining assistance, and mobility support care to an average of 20 residents per shift
- Monitor and record vital signs and resident well-being, communicating significant changes to nursing staff to ensure immediate response and care adjustments
- Assist in coordinating social and recreational activities, increasing resident participation by 30%
Follow latest OSHA and HIPAA protocols, significantly minimizing incidents and enhancing resident security
- Administered daily medications under nurse supervision, achieving a 100% accuracy rate in adherence to treatment plans
- Documented all care activities in electronic health records with attention to detail and accuracy, ensuring information was up-to-date and accessible
- Engaged with families and visitors to provide updates and reassurance, earning consistent praise for clear communication and empathy
- Participated in regular training sessions to enhance clinical skills and knowledge, maintaining high standards of healthcare practices
Resume Genius University
A.A. in Health Care Studies
Graduation Date: May 20XX
- Certified Nurse Aide – Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry, 20XX
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – American Heart Association, 20XX
Why this example works
- Engages the reader right away: A few sentences at the top of this resume summarize the applicant’s top CNA abilities — the information most likely to get the hiring manager interested in interviewing them for the role.
- Emphasizes certifications: The candidate placed their certification section after their education section to ensure the employer sees they have the training required for their target CNA job.
STNA resume
- Health record management
- Communication
- Wound care
- Up-to-date understanding of OSHA standards
- Support daily care needs of up to 25 residents per shift, enhancing resident comfort and maintaining dignity in daily living activities
- Record and monitor vital signs and resident health information, ensuring data is accurately entered into the EHR system
- Collaborate with nursing staff and physicians to implement resident care plans, contributing to a 20% improvement in resident satisfaction rates
- Adhere to all safety and health regulations, contributing to the center’s track record of full compliance with state guidelines
- Provided comprehensive bedside care and emotional support to 14 elderly residents
- Supported staff with daily operations, including meal distribution, medication management, and facility cleanup
- Conducted regular safety checks, contributing to a safer environment for residents and staff
- State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) – Clark State College, Beavercreek, Ohio (20XX)
- CPR certified – American Red Cross (20XX)
- HIPAA Compliance Training – University of Cincinnati (20XX)
Why this example works
- Leads with keywords from the job ad: The job post emphasizes the need for STNA certification, so the candidate mentions it in the first sentence of their resume objective.
- Uses action verbs: To highlight their active approach to healthcare, the applicant describes their responsibilities with strong action verbs.
4 CNA resume writing tips
Follow these 4 steps to write a CNA resume that lands you the healthcare job you want:
1. Explain your experience with hard numbers
Adding data to your CNA resume adds depth to your accomplishments and demonstrates your ability to produce results that make your resume stand out.
Here’s a long list of well-written work history bullet points with hard numbers that you can copy and tweak to use on your resume:
CNA job description examples for your resume
- Assisted approximately 15 residents each shift with activities of daily living, ensuring they were on time for all meals and activities, while demonstrating strong patient care and people skills
- Reduced the number of daily patient calls by 10% by educating residents on proper call procedures and practices, showcasing effective communication skills and regulation compliance
- Administered bedside and personal care to an average of 10 patients per shift in a fast-paced 200-bed hospital, maintaining patient comfort and privacy while assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), emphasizing clinical support and patient care
- Achieved a 95% positive feedback score from patient satisfaction surveys by providing compassionate, attentive care and effectively communicating with patients and their families, highlighting communication skills and people skills
- Collaborated with a team of nurses and other healthcare professionals to implement more personalized patient care plans, resulting in a 10% improvement in patient recovery times, demonstrating strong teamwork skills and clinical support
- Implemented behavioral plans that reduced episodes of disruptive behavior by 30%, enhancing overall facility harmony and client satisfaction, utilizing people skills and ensuring regulation compliance
- Managed scheduling and transportation for client appointments and recreational activities, ensuring 100% compliance with care plans and encouraging client engagement in community activities, reflecting administration and independent task management skills
- Delivered high-quality care to senior residents, including bathing, dressing, and nutritional support, contributing to a 10% increase in resident satisfaction regarding personal care, demonstrating patient care and physical fitness
- Documented up to 50 resident interactions per shift using MEDITECH, ensuring accurate and up-to-date communication of care activities to medical staff, showcasing administration and communication skills
Quantifying your professional achievements like this on your resume shows employers the benefits that you can offer if hired.
2. Showcase your CNA 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 are the CNA skills and knowledge that you learned during your training. Soft skills are the personal strengths that make you an asset at work, like excellent time management skills.
To impress hiring managers, feature both CNA hard and soft skills on your resume:
Hard skills
- Clinical Support
- Patient Care
- Administration
- Regulation Compliance
- Independent Task Management
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Physical Fitness
- 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
- Communication Skills
- Teamwork Skills
- People Skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Teamwork
- Conflict management
- Active listening
- Adaptability
- Calmness
- Patience
- Empathy
- Attention to detail
- Physical stamina
- Stress management
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Organization
3. Write an engaging resume objective
Ensure the hiring manager sees your best qualifications by putting them in a CNA resume objective — a 2- or 3-sentence summary at the top of your resume.
Here are examples of engaging objectives for CNA resumes written by applicants with various levels of experience and target roles:
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.
Resume objective for an experienced CNA
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.
Senior CNA resume objective
Dedicated CNA with over 10 years of experience in providing compassionate care to a diverse patient population. Adept at collaborating effectively with medical teams to enhance patient outcomes, evidenced by a 30% reduction in patient recovery times through meticulous care plan evaluations and adjustments. Seeking to leverage extensive expertise and a proven track record of excellence in a leadership role at a top-tier medical facility.
Resume Objective for a Travel CNA
Adaptable CNA with 5 years of experience in fast-paced healthcare environments across multiple states. Specialize in providing excellent patient care in various settings, including emergency and surgical units, with a strong commitment to meeting the unique needs of each community. Eager to bring expertise and a flexible approach to the open Travel CNA role at Healing Touch.
Resume Objective for an STNA
Highly skilled, Ohio-certified STNA with 7 years of experience in providing critical support and care in assisted living and residential health settings. Proficient in handling complex patient needs and maintaining compliance with stringent healthcare regulations. Looking to apply my patient care skills and attention to detail in a challenging STNA role that allows for impactful work in improving patient quality of life.
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 HIPAA 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, the 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. These are additional courses and certifications you may want to include on your resume:
- CPR/First Aid
- Caring for Seniors
- Disability Care Course
Need additional inspiration? Check out our nursing resume examples.
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Average certified nursing assistant salaries in the US
After you’ve written your resume, make sure you use it to apply for jobs within a fair salary range.
The following table includes information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report for 2025. Here are the ten states with the highest salaries for certified nursing assistants, as well as the national average for your reference when applying for work.
Top 10 states by average certified nursing assistant salary
| State | Salary / Year |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,970 |
| Washington | $49,960 |
| California | $48,790 |
| Alaska | $48,550 |
| New York | $47,530 |
| District of Columbia | $47,480 |
| New Hampshire | $47,190 |
| Massachusetts | $46,130 |
| Maine | $45,500 |
| Hawaii | $45,480 |
| National Average | $41,270 |
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