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As the U.S. population continues to grow and age, jobs in the healthcare profession are expected to increase at a steady rate to meet increased demand. That means more jobs for doctors, nurses, and Certified Nurse Assistants like you. Of course, your dedication to caring for patients won’t be enough to ensure that you land the position you want. To do that, you’ll also need to present employers with a Certified Nurse Assistant resume that highlights your skills and experience.
The good news is that we’ve created this “Certified Nurse Resume Example Tips & Tricks” guide to help you meet that resume challenge. We’ll offer some of the top tips you can use to craft a winning resume, including key details that can help you understand what today’s employers are looking for when they review a Certified Nurse Assistant resume.
How to write a resume
Your resume needs to be more than just a dry recitation of your previous work history if you want to stand out from the competition. After all, this document is your first introduction to every prospective employer and your best chance to make a great first impression. Think of it as a marketing or advertising piece designed to showcase your skills and present you as the best candidate for any open position.
Like any other marketing product, your resume needs to be crafted in a way that delivers a powerful message about you as a potential employee. Here’s how you can achieve that goal:
Use the reverse chronological format
When crafting your resume, there are several different format options you can use. However, we recommend the reverse chronological format for most job applicants. Many employers prefer this format for its clarity and simplicity, and it’s easy to see why they feel that way. A reverse chronological resume enables employers to review your work history, starting with your most recent job. It also enables them to immediately identify experience that aligns with their needs.
Use section headings to create structure
Once you’ve selected the right format, it is time to consider the structure of your Certified Nurse Assistant resume. Fortunately, the reverse chronological format does most of that work for you if you use the most common headings to define each section of the resume. Your chronological resume should include:
Your contact information. This section goes right at the top of your resume and includes your full name, city, state, zip code, phone number, email, and a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Job title. The resume body should begin with your job title. Choose a title that aligns with the role you are seeking to ensure that your presentation gets off on the right foot.
Profile or summary statement. Your profile, or summary statement, is like an elevator pitch that introduces you to prospective employers. It should be brief (no more than three-five sentences, whenever possible) and summarize your most relevant skills, experiences, and unique value proposition.
Your core competency section. This section is where you list your most relevant hard and soft skills. You should focus on including no more than a dozen of those abilities tailored to the specific role you want.
A professional experience or work history section. In this section, you can list the jobs you have held over the last ten to fifteen years. Start with your most recent or current position, and then list the others in reverse chronological order. For each position, include three or four bullet point examples of job duties and quantifiable achievements.
Education. In your education section, you can include your college degrees, relevant coursework, certifications, and other educational information.
Insert relevant keywords
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by many companies to help them filter through the dozens and often hundreds of applications they receive from job seekers. If your resume is not designed to satisfy these automated screening programs, then it is unlikely that it will ever be seen by human eyes. Fortunately, there are things you can do to get past an ATS and ensure that a hiring manager reviews the document. Selecting a chronological resume format helps, but it is just the first step.
You also need to pay attention to the relevant keywords included in any job description since it is likely that those words and phrases will be part of any ATS scanning process. Remember, these systems are scanning resumes to ensure that applicants have the right levels of experience, education, and core competencies. By identifying the keywords and phrases used to describe those qualifications and using those exact terms in your resume, you can improve your odds of passing any ATS review.
Always tailor your resume to each job role
Your goal should be to create a master Certified Nurse Assistant resume that includes all of your top skills and experiences. However, chances are that this resume will not be the one you send out to each employer. Instead, you will need to tailor your resume to ensure that it aligns with each specific job application. Those modifications may include changing the title to ensure that it aligns with the company’s role, substituting certain skills for others, and changing keywords to match those used in the job description.
Certified Nurse Assistant resume example
To see how this information is used to create a convincing resume, check out this sample certified nurse assistant resume:
Name
Title
City, State or Country if international
Phone | Email
LinkedIn URL
CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE PROFESSIONAL
Compassionate and dedicated, bilingual/multilingual Certified Nurse Aide with a passion for providing the best quality patient/resident care possible while handling confidential paperwork, administering medications and assisting with daily activities. Proven ability to collaborate with colleagues to foster a friendly and caring environment. Capable of consulting with patient’s/resident’s family members, ensuring their loved one is receiving the attention and guidance needed during highly stressful medical situations. Employs organizational and multi-tasking skills while thriving within a team and confirming each patient/resident is given the proper care to improve their quality of life.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Diagnostics
Charting
Vital Signs
Medical Equipment Management
Medical Records
Filing
Activity Development
HIPAA Compliance
Medical Terminology
Healthcare
Treatment Procedures
Groooming
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Certified Nurse Aide
Company | Location | Year to Year
Responsibilities
Delivered exceptional, personalized nursing care/services to residents to create a welcoming environment where they could begin to thrive.
Collaborated with each resident and a unified care team to confirm that their resident rights were promoted and they were in a protected environment while maintaining their independence.
Handled numerous house duties to ensure operations were efficient.
Developed improved methods to manage supply inventory and supply requisitions.
Provided medication reminders and dispensed medications when needed under the supervision of an RN.
CNA
Company | Location | Year to Year
Responsibilities
Supported residents with bathing, dressing, hygiene, and grooming in accordance with established care plans.
Spent time with family members (ensuring HIPPA regulations were adhered to) to educate them on their loved one’s progress.
Completed and submitted clinical documentation by company guidelines.
Facilitated various activities to engage clients and make them feel comfortable.
Designed new strategies to expedite work processes, resulting in an XX% increase in overall efficiency of the facility.
CNA
Company | Location | Year to Year
Responsibilities
Cooperated with licensed nursing staff to provide direct patient care.
Observed patient status and reported patient complaints to the case manager.
Transferred residents in and out of wheelchairs and adaptive equipment.
Provided transportation, assistance, and companionship to clients.
Comforted patients and provided them with reassurance and encouragement to heal.
EDUCATION
Complete School Name, City, St/Country: List Graduation Years If Within the Last Ten Years
Complete Degree Name (Candidate) – Major (GPA: List if over 3.3)
Relevant Coursework: List coursework taken (even include those you are planning on taking)
Awards/Honors: List any awards, honors or big achievements
Clubs/Activities: List clubs and activities in which you participated
Relevant Projects: List 2-3 projects you have worked on
Key hard & soft skills for a Certified Nurse Assistant
Every employer will want to know that you have the right skills to meet the job’s basic requirements. To demonstrate those qualifications, you should include both hard (those technical skills that you develop via targeted training or hands-on learning) and soft (personal qualities and abilities that help you do your job) skills.
Here are three of the most relevant hard skills you’ll need for your certified nurse assistant resume:
Record-keeping and documentation
Nurse assistants operate in a team environment, so it is vital to be familiar with the processes used to keep records and document patient treatment. By including these vital skills in your resume, you can illustrate your readiness to help doctors and nurses offer the best possible care to their patients.
Medical terminology knowledge
While CNAs may not be expected to know every bit of medical terminology in use today, having at least some basic understanding of those terms can help to set you apart from rival candidates. Just make sure you’re as honest as possible when describing this skill.
Basic clinical skills
If you have any experience at all as a Certified Nurse Assistant, chances are that you’ll possess some clinical skills. This can include a basic understanding of common ailments, familiarity with certain illnesses, and knowledge about common best practices for treatment and care.
To really make a great impression, don’t forget to work these highly prized soft skills into your core competency section as well:
Detail-oriented
When patients’ health is on the line, attention to detail is an absolute necessity for CNAs. You should highlight your skills related to observation, risk assessment, and ability to recognize changes in a patient’s condition.
Communication
Both verbal and written communication skills should be highlighted. As part of a team of caregivers, you will need to know how to communicate with doctors, nurses, and other members of your team to ensure that important information is shared in a timely, accurate, and effective manner.
Interpersonal skills
Employers will also want to assess your interpersonal skills. These skills include things like empathy, active listening, compassion, and the ability to make patients feel safe in their healthcare environment.
Summary & last words
Your Certified Nurse Assistant resume is your best opportunity to capture a prospective employer’s attention and earn a chance to be interviewed for your desired position. To make the best possible impression, you need to ensure that you highlight the experiences, skills, and achievements that hiring managers are looking for in any new hires. Use this guide to help you create the right resume structure, deliver a powerful narrative that sells your qualifications, and increase your odds of landing an interview.
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