Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resume Examples and Tips

How to pick the right format for your CNA resume

Before you sit down to write your CNA resume, it’s important to understand how to choose the right resume format for your document:

• Chronological resume: This is the most widely used format by job seekers. It’s ideal for certified nursing assistants with extensive work experience in health care, as it focuses on the work history section and your career growth.
• Functional resume: If you’re a CNA with little to no experience, consider using the functional format. This format focuses on the skills you have for the CNA job as opposed to work experience, so if you just finished training, it’s a great option to show managers that you have the qualifications needed to do the job.
• Combination resume: As it’s suggested by the name, the combination or hybrid resume format is a mix of the chronological and functional resume formats. It’s ideal for certified nursing assistants with three to eight years of work experience, as it gives equal emphasis to your years of experience and CNA skill set.

Some other resume formatting tips to keep in mind:

• Use a professional resume font. Stick to fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica or Verdana; this isn’t the time to be eccentric.
• Make sure the margins are correct. Your CNA resume should have 1-inch margins all around but if you need extra space for more information, you can take them down to half an inch.
• Keep it readable. The font size of your resume should be large enough for recruiters and managers to read. The body text should be 11-12 points, the subheadings 14-15 and your name 16 or 18.
• Maintain the right spacing. Keep the spacing between lines as single or 1.5.
• Download in the correct file format. The CNA job description will let you know if the potential employer wants the resume in a specific file format but, usually, PDF or MS Word is the way to go.

What should be included in a CNA resume?

Exactly how your CNA resume is set up will depend on your resume format. In addition to choosing the right resume format, as described above, follow these guidelines for structuring your resume layout. The headings on your resume will typically stay the same regardless of the format you’re using.

1. Header and contact information

The first section is your header containing your contact information. A header helps introduce you to a CNA job. It includes your full name, phone number, email address and any job networking links such as LinkedIn. Make sure that the information you include is updated and professional.

2. Resume objective or resume summary

Your CNA resume can begin with either a resume summary or a resume objective. Which is best for you will depend on your years of experience and what you hope to accomplish with your resume.

A resume summary summarizes your top qualifications relevant to the job description in two to three sentences. It’s best for certified nursing assistants with more than three years of work experience. For example:

Diligent certified nursing assistant with more than four years of experience working in nursing homes. Able to provide the best patient care, educate family members and bathe patients. Skilled in stocking supplies, documenting food and liquid intake, and medication administration.

A resume objective also summarizes your key skills and qualifications in two to three sentences but it also states your goals for employment. An objective statement is better for candidates with less than two years of experience or people changing careers.

CNA with two years of experience seeking nursing assistant job in a rehabilitation center. Strong physical strength to turn and move patients, knowledgeable in medical terminology and documentation of electronic medical records. Excellent communicator and collaborator.

3. Skills section

There are many hard skills and soft skills that you can include as part of a nursing assistant job. Here are some of the resume skills to consider in the following bullet points:

Hard skills:

• Charting patient vital signs
• Wheelchair usage and ambulation
• Medical equipment
• First aid
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

Soft skills:

• Teamwork
• Excellent communication skills
• Time management skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Compassion
• Adaptability

4. Work experience section

Your work history section should be written in reverse-chronological order. Your current or latest CNA experience should go at the top and each position should include three to five bullet points detailing work accomplishments or major responsibilities in diverse health care settings. In addition:

• Start each bullet point with an action verb like organized, treated, aided or charted. Action verbs will help your CNA resume pack a punch.
• Use numbers to better portray your accomplishments as a certified nursing assistant.

Take a look at this example of a CNA resume work experience section:

CNA job description for resume: example

CNA / May 2018 – Nov. 2022

Oak Home, Nashville, TN

• Fed an average of 15 patients per day, ensuring that they finished their meals.
• Cleaned 20 rooms every week, over 40 linens and thoroughly cleaned patient bedpans.
• Educated family members with patient care best practices and provided comfort during trying times.

5. Education

You need to take a state-approved program to become an entry-level CNA. This usually takes around 8-12 weeks and teaches you all the basic skills you need to know. You might also need to pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination, an exam that’s divided into two parts, a written and oral exam, to become a licensed CNA.

CNA programs are offered at local community colleges, high schools, vocational or technical schools or local hospitals.

If you finished this program at your high school, then include your high school’s name and the fact that you have obtained your high school diploma. If you have a bachelor’s degree in addition to the training, just include your college degree. Don’t list your GPA, unless it’s requested or you’re a new graduate with honors.

Here’s an example of how to organize a listing for your education section:

Degree Name / Major
University, Location | Start Date – End Date

6. Additional sections

If you have additional certifications or training that is relevant to the CNA job, create other sections for your resume. Some certifications you could consider include:

• First Aid
• CPR
• Basic Life Support (BLS)

Your certifications should follow this format:

Certifications/ Training:

Full name of the certification (common abbreviation), Organization or State that issues the certificate – date you earned the certification (June 2023).

For more examples and tips, check out our How to Make a Resume page.