
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
You’ve completed the CNA course, passed the exam, and found the perfect job opening. One last thing to score this ideal work opportunity—the best CNA resume they’ve yet seen. Ready?
From the chronically ill to the mentally disabled to the elderly, you help people who can’t help themselves. Thing is, the hospital or long-term care clinic doesn’t yet know about your your extraordinary nursing skills.
So, you’ll inform them— with the best CNA resume to talk up your medical skills, nursing experience, and professional background.
In this guide you’ll find:
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Also, have a look at these similar medical resume examples related to nursing:
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James Westerlock
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
james.westerlock@gmail.com
(678) 876-6786
linkedin.com/in/jameswesterlock
Summary of Qualifications
Caring certified nursing assistant (CNA) with 2+ years assisting a variety of patients with healthcare, medical, and physical care needs. Worked with over 15 regular senior patients to increase quality of life. Trained 5+ student nurse assistants and home health aides on multiple elderly care operations.
Work Experience
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
May 2018–August 2019
Montmartre Medical Services, Atlanta, GA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Nursing Assistant
February 2017–March 2018
Southern Senior Care, Atlanta, GA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Education
Majoring Towards Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Expected Graduation: 2022
Relevant Coursework: Medical Assisting Fundamentals, Pathophysiology & Pharmacology in Nursing, Strategic Nurse Care, Personalized Medical Assistance, Clinical Reasoning, Common Adult Health Problems, Administering Senior Care, Nursing Diagnostics & Procedures.
High School Diploma
Benjamin E. Mays High School, Atlanta, GA
Graduation: 2017
Key Skills
Certifications
Memberships
Languages
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides direct care and support to patients in a healthcare setting. CNAs enhance patients' comfort, assisting with daily activities and ensuring their well-being. Compassion, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills are essential in this role.
Now—here’s how to write a CNA resume of your own:
A nurse wouldn’t just jab a needle in a patient’s arm before washing their hands and sanitizing the area, right?
Similarly, before you begin writing a resume for certified nurse assistant jobs, the resume formatting needs to be prepared.
Here’s how to format a CNA resume:
Expert Hint: Export the resume as a PDF, unless directed otherwise. A CNA resume PDF can be read on any screen or device, while a Word document appears funny on certain phones or computers.
If a client comes into a medical office for a procedural consultation, the doctor’s competence and demeanor will either set their mind at ease or have them running away in fear.
It’s the same when starting a resume—a resume header paragraph, known as an objective or summary, either compels the RN or LPN in charge to read further or makes them move on to the next candidate.
It has to be good. But which intro statement is right for you? If you have experience as a certified nurse assistant, go with the resume summary.
The career summary statement talks up your knowledge of certified nursing assistant skills, procedures, and protocols. It introduces you as a CNA candidate by briefly relaying your background, and it intrigues them by proving your abilities with a numbered achievement.
Here’s how to write a summary on a certified nursing assistant (CNA) resume:
The first example resume summary is the winner because it is detailed, specific, and includes numbers to verify your CNA skills. Furthermore, it’s tailored to the job—a key trait of CNA resumes that score interviews.
When you’ve got little or no work history as a CNA, go with the resume objective.
The objective statement on a resume for certified nursing assistants gives evidence of your skills and background, though unrelated. It provides your career goals to show your desire for this CNA job, and it also submits a numbered achievement for the win.
Here’s how to write a CNA resume objective introduction:
The bad example is generic and full of job-seeking jargon—you’ll prove you’re not the best certified nursing assistant because you’ll make them sick.
The good example is just right: to the point, detailed, personalized, and quantifiable.
Expert Hint: For the biggest impact, write the heading statement last. This way, you’ll have the best idea of what to talk about in your intro from writing the other sections.
Now we’ve come to the main part of any certified nursing assistant resume—the work experience section.
Here’s how to list past work in a CNA job description for resume:
Check out these two CNA job description examples:
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
May 2018–August 2019
Montmartre Medical Services, Atlanta, GA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
May 2018–August 2019
Montmartre Medical Services, Atlanta, GA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
See this? It’s not enough to give a monotonous, basic list of CNA duties.
To captivate the hiring doctor, RN, LPN, or LVN, give detailed bullet points of your job responsibilities, customize it for this particular position, and include quantifiable wins.
Focus on accomplishments. Most office assistants, CNAs, waiters, waitresses and others send lists with job titles and the job-candidate's job description. Hiring managers either know your job description or they can look it up online. They cannot look up your accomplishments in the job. What kinds of patients did you serve as a CNA? How many did you care for each day?
Also—beware the ATS.
An ATS, or applicant tracking system, assists the administrative staff at larger hospitals and clinics manage the large amounts of resumes they receive. A resume is fed into the software, given resume keywords to look for, and is graded by its match percentage.
If you get a poor grade, you’ll be deemed a poor candidate. To pass the ATS scans, you need to use a high-quality ATS resume template and fill your resume with the right keywords.
To locate the ideal keywords to use on a resume for CNA jobs, return to the job advertisement.
The CNA job description, particularly in the duties area, will tell you exactly which skills and abilities this medical facility is looking for in a CNA candidate.
Next up—a great section with skills to put on a resume for CNA applicants.
Nursing assistants, aides, and orderlies are expected to increase by 192,800 jobs each year. This 8% increase means more jobs—but also more competitors.
Here is a list of sample CNA resume skills to ensure you get it right:
As we mentioned earlier, a targeted resume is a resume they’ll consider.
So, don’t think of every CNA skill and medical ability you have and throw them into a nursing assistant skills list. Instead, look at the job ad once more to find the skills they’re looking for. If you have one they request, add that into your certified nurse assistant skills resume list.
Consider including a core competency matrix of 9 hard skills in three columns to help ATS systems find your resume. This is especially important for CNA and related healthcare jobs where specific patient care competencies are key to being selected.
Expert Hint: Include a few soft skills to complement your hard skills! Communication skills, patience, and empathy are just as important for CNA jobs as knowing how to check vital signs.
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You don’t need more than a high school education for most nursing assistant positions. However—you do need to document your education correctly.
Here’s how a CNA resume education section should appear:
Majoring Towards Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Expected Graduation: 2022
Relevant Coursework: Medical Assisting Fundamentals, Pathophysiology & Pharmacology in Nursing, Strategic Nurse Care, Safety and Infection Control, Clinical Reasoning, Activities in Daily Living, Administering Elderly Care, Nursing Diagnostics & Procedures.
High School Diploma
Benjamin E. Mays High School, Atlanta, GA
Graduation: 2017
Here are guidelines to follow for a perfect CNA resume education section:
If you have completed a college degree, however, there’s no need to include your high school diploma.
Expert Hint: In most cases, your work history section goes above your education section. However, if you haven’t worked yet and your education section is more substantial, switch places and put this on top.
Additional sections on a CNA resume show the RN or LPN a clearer picture of yourself as a candidate.
Here are several top choices to consider for extra sections on a nursing assistant resume:
CNA & Nursing Organizations & Associations
Foreign Language Proficiency
Expert Hint: Don’t forget to include a cover letter for CNA jobs. Most employers require one, and many of the ones that don’t still prefer a CNA cover letter.
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Let’s sum up.
Here’s how to write the best CNA resume:
Have any questions on how to write a resume for certified nursing assistant jobs? Want more CNA resume samples? Let’s chat below in the comments, and thanks for reading!
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
You can stop searching—this is the ultimate collection of best resume tips that can help you succeed in 2023. These resume writing tips will help to impress hiring managers.
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