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Certified Nursing Assistants, also known as CNAs, support Registered Nurses and other members of the healthcare team by providing basic patient care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job opportunities for CNAs to grow by 8% over the next 10 years, meaning there will be plenty of jobs available.
If you’re ready to begin a rewarding CNA career, knowing what recruiters want to see from candidates will help you land the job you want. Check out the CNA skills to put on your resume and what you can do to stand out from the crowd.
Top CNA Qualifications and Skills Most Recruiters Look For
First things first, recruiters want to see CNA candidates who have the appropriate training and certification. The exact rules for certification vary from state to state, but you’ll usually need to complete an educational program and pass an exam.
Visit our Search by State page to see your state’s requirements. You can also find a CNA school near you, just enter your zip code in our CNA school finder. Some CNA schools can be a few months long but there are also accelerated programs that you can graduate from in just 4 weeks.
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Recruiters are also going to want to know about any continuing education programs you’ve completed or additional training you’ve received. The healthcare field evolves constantly, and technology always changes. Recruiters want candidates who are maintaining and developing their skills.
Include the name of any training program you’ve completed, including the location and name of the school, plus any continuing education programs, on your resume. Also, list your certification such as “Certified Nursing Assistant” and the state where you earned it.
CNA Skills List: What to Include in Your Resume
After verifying you’ve got the necessary certification, recruiters will review your skills to make sure you have what it takes to succeed on the job. Recruiters often use keyword scanning software that looks for particular skills, so it’s vital that you list the most in-demand ones on your resume.
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Recruiters want to see:
● Communication skills: The best CNAs know how to listen and respond to patients’ concerns. They also know how to share important information with their supervisors and colleagues.
● Patient monitoring and vital signs: A CNA needs to know how to take vital signs and monitor patients, and how to record that information.
● HIPAA and privacy regulations: Recruiters want CNAs who understand HIPAA and the importance of patient privacy.
● Medical terminology: While you might not know all the terms if you’re getting your first CNA job, recruiters generally look for people who have a basic understanding of medical lingo and who won’t be lost on the job.
● Compassion and patience: CNAs work with patients all day. Some patients can be more demanding than others. Recruiters want CNAs who are compassionate and patient and who can empathize with the people they work with.
● Attention to detail: It’s the little things that count, especially when working with patient populations. Recruiters want CNAs who will notice if something is slightly off and who will report any details, even seemingly small ones, to their supervisors.
● Record keeping: Patient record keeping is a critical part of the CNA’s job. Understanding how to use electronic medical records systems and how to update patient charts is a must-have skill every recruiter wants to see.
Writing the CNA Resume Objective
The objective sits at the top of your resume and tells recruiters what you want and why you’re a good fit for the role. Think of the resume objective as your chance to impress and make your case, all in two or three sentences. When you write your objective, state your immediate goal (get a CNA job), your past experience and the most relevant skills.
Here is an example of a CNA objective:
“Certified Nursing Assistant looking for a position at a university teaching hospital, where I can apply my three years of CNA experience, understanding of medical terminology, attention to detail and compassion for patients.”
Sample CNA Resume Template
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Now that you know what recruiters want, how do you put it all together? You can use and modify this basic template:
NAME
Address
Phone | Email
CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT OBJECTIVE
Certified Nursing Assistant looking for a position at a university teaching hospital, where I can
apply my three years of CNA experience, understanding of medical terminology, attention to
detail and compassion for patients.
CNA Skills
● Medical Terminology
● Attention to detail
● HIPAA
● Vital Signs
● Communication skills
● Compassion
● Electronic Medical Records
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
● Company Name, City, STATE
○ Job Title, Years
○ Description of responsibilities and skills
EDUCATION
● School Name, City, STATE
○ Program/Certificate name
CERTIFICATION, City, STATE
With the above information, hopefully all Certified Nursing Assistants applying for openings have a helpful guide on how to build their resume, as well as score points with their recruiter.
Guest Article: For more information about CNA staffing visit Theraex