Certified nursing assistants provide hands-on care in nursing homes, hospitals, rehab centers, assisted living, and home health. You help patients bathe, dress, eat, and move safely, take vital signs, and report changes to the nurse. It's demanding work, and it's also one of the fastest ways into healthcare, with clear paths to LPN, RN, and other roles.
Your certification comes first
Federal rules require nurse aides working in nursing homes to complete a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, and to pass a competency exam. Once you pass, you're listed on your state's nurse aide registry. In Alabama, the registry is maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Put your certification, the state, and its status at the very top of your resume, along with CPR or BLS.
What nurses and hiring managers look for
They want aides who are gentle, reliable, and observant. Safe transfers, accurate vital signs, careful charting, and noticing when something isn't right with a resident are all essential. Attendance matters enormously, because short staffing affects every patient on the unit.
Resume summary
Compassionate, state-certified CNA with hands-on experience in long-term care, assisted living, and rehab settings. Patient, observant, and steady under pressure. Looking to bring strong patient care and team communication to a new role.
Skills to list
- State CNA certification (current)
- Activities of daily living (ADL) support
- Vital signs (BP, pulse, temp, respiration)
- Safe transfers and patient lifts (Hoyer)
- Bed making and turning schedules
- Toileting, bathing, and grooming care
- Charting and electronic medical records
- HIPAA and patient privacy
- Infection control and PPE
- 12-hour shifts and weekends
Experience bullet points
- Provided personal care to patients including bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
- Took and recorded vital signs and reported changes to the nurse on duty
- Performed safe patient transfers using gait belts and mechanical lifts
- Followed turning and repositioning schedules to prevent pressure ulcers
- Charted patient care, intake and output, and observations in the EMR
- Maintained infection control by following PPE, isolation, and hand hygiene protocols
- Kept patient rooms clean, supplied, and ready for visitors and care
- Communicated changes in patient condition to nurses and family members
- Followed HIPAA rules in every conversation, chart, and shift report
- Worked 12-hour shifts including weekends, nights, and holidays as scheduled
Show your patient load and care quality
Certified Nursing Assistant, Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center, Birmingham, AL. 2022 to Present. Provide daily care for 10 to 12 residents per shift on a long-term care unit; take and chart vital signs; perform safe transfers with gait belts and mechanical lifts; recognized by families and staff for compassionate care; perfect attendance for 12 months.
Tips for this job
- Name your setting. Long-term care, hospital, rehab, memory care, or hospice each require different strengths.
- Mention the charting system. Electronic health records and point-of-care charting tools you've used help employers.
- Include specialties. Dementia care, restorative aide training, or experience with specific patient groups can set you apart.
- Say where you're headed. If you're in nursing school or plan to be, mention it. Many employers offer tuition help to aides who want to advance.
Build your resume free
Open the 360 Quick Resume builder, choose Healthcare, then pick Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). This summary, skills list, and these bullet points load in for you to edit. Download as PDF, Word, or plain text, free.
Want more help? Read how to list skills on your resume or how to explain a gap in your resume.