Best CNA Resume Examples & Templates for 2026

Richard Shelton

Resume writing expert.

Every nurse resume is different, and especially the CNA resume. Skills, approach and training for CNA are quite varied and Certified Nursing Assistant's resume should reflect hands-on ability, reliability, and readiness for clinical work.

Whether you’re an entry-level CNA, a student completing certification, or transitioning into healthcare, this guide provides real CNA resume examples, templates, and step-by-step guidance to help you get hired faster.

Who This CNA Resume Guide Is For

Well, for every CNA. :) You will find the guide useful if you are -

• Entry-level CNAs applying for their first job
• CNA students or recent certification holders
• Career changers entering healthcare
• CNAs applying to nursing homes, hospitals, or home health roles

What Hiring Managers Look for in a CNA Resume?

Hiring managers expect CNAs to be a team player before anything else. How well can you work with other team members, how well you can take instructions and execute duties.

So CNA resumes should reflect - clarity, professionalism, and evidence of patient-care readiness.

CNA hiring manger specifically look for:

• Clear CNA certification and licensing details
• Basic patient care competencies (ADLs, vitals, hygiene)
• Reliability and ability to work shifts
• Comfort working with patients and healthcare teams
• Simple, ATS-friendly formatting

ATS-optimized experienced CNA resume example.

Best for CNAs with 5 years+ experience.

Use this template

ATS-optimized CNA resume example and template.

Best for applying via job portals and passing software scans.

Use this template

What Makes a Certified Nurse Assistant Resume Unique?

Your personality makes a CNA resume unique. Aspiring CNAs should take a note – probability of you nailing an interview and then succeeding in the job is relied for most part on your attitude.

How you can reflect your personality, give your resume your personal touch depends upon how well you know the professional yourself and how well you can put that into a piece of paper. Your CNA resume should have these points along with your touch personality, display of positive attitude and empathy -

• Daily hygiene and grooming
• Vital signs monitoring and documentation
• Patient mobility and positioning
• Basic medical tasks under RN supervision

In your resume always use action-oriented bullet points and tailor your CNA resume to the job posting for the best results.

Please make a point: employers are looking for CNAs who are not only dependable but also emotionally aware — since you're often the first point of contact for patients.

Unlike Registered Nurses, CNAs don't need to demonstrate care planning or medication administration. But your attention to detail, time management, and a strong work ethic are essential.

Highlight certifications, reliability, and your ability to comfort patients in high-stress environments.

CNA Resume Format (ATS-Friendly & Recruiter-Approved)

Best Resume Format for Certified Nursing Assistants

Just like every other nurse resume, the reverse-chronological format is best for CNA resumes. It places your most recent training, clinical experience, or employment first, making it easy for recruiters and ATS systems to scan.

Best way to structure your CNA resume:

• Header: Start with Full Name, Contact Information (Phone, Email, City, LinkedIn(optional)).
• Summary: Brief introduction about yourself, your career goals, and do mention - value you would bring for the position. Summary should have hint of your personality.
• Skills: Mention soft and hard skills relevant to CNA roles such as patient care, vital signs monitoring, infection control, etc.
• Work Experience: Include job title, employer, and start date - end date. Start bullet points with action verbs and continue describing responsibilities and achievements.
• Education and Certifications: Highlight CNA certification and any relevant courses or training.

Best layout for CNA resume:

• Font: Use a professional font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Font size should be between 10 and 12 points.
• Margins: Set margins between 0.5 to 1 inch to ensure the document is well-spaced and readable.
• Bullet Points: Use bullet points for listing responsibilities and achievements for ease of reading.
• Length: Strictly keep the resume to one page, especially if you have less than 10 years of experience.
• Standardize Formatting: Use bold or italics sparingly for headings or key information, maintaining uniformity throughout the document.
• File Format: Export the resume as a PDF to maintain the format across different devices and platforms.

Important tips for CNA resume:

• Highlight Certifications: Always mention your CNA certification in the education section or as a separate section.
• Quantify Achievements: Where possible, include metrics to quantify your achievements (e.g., "Assisted 8+ patients daily in personal care routines").
• Personalize Your Summary: Alter the summary to every specific CNA role you are applying for.
• Include Technical Skills: Mention any specific medical software or equipment you are familiar with.

CNA Resume Examples (Role-Based)

Entry-Level CNA Resume Example (No Experience)

Professional Summary

Certified Nursing Assistant with recent clinical training and hands-on experience providing patient care under supervision. Skilled in assisting with daily living activities, monitoring vital signs, and maintaining patient comfort and safety. Seeking an entry-level CNA position in a healthcare setting.

Clinical Experience

• Effectively maintained an ongoing channel of communication with patients, doctors, and patient representatives while adhering to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Updated patient records with precision. Developed report for doctors and nurses to showcase potential health issues.
• Acted as liaison between healthcare providers and patients regarding insurance and payments, Insurance benefits verification, Insurance coverage, and outstanding claims.

Certification

Skills

ATS-optimized new grad CNA resume example.

Best for new grad CNAs and 1-2 years of experienced CNAs.

Use this template

CNA Resume Points for Nursing Homes

• Assisted residents with mobility, feeding, grooming, and hygiene
• Provided emotional support and maintained patient dignity
• Monitored changes in condition and reported concerns promptly
• Supported nurses with routine patient care tasks

CNA Resume Points for Hospital Settings

• Assisted nursing staff with patient transfers and transport
• Measured and recorded vital signs accurately
• Maintained clean and safe patient environments
• Supported infection prevention protocols

CNA Resume Points for Home Health Aide Roles

• Provided one-on-one patient care in home settings
• Assisted with daily activities and personal care
• Communicated patient status to supervising nurses
• Maintained confidentiality and professional boundaries

ATS-optimized Nursing homes and Home Health Aide CNA Roles example.

Best for nursing homes and home health aid CNAs.

Use this template

Must Have Skills to Include in CNA Resume

The skills section is an important section on your resume where you can list your proficiencies to the point. It is always recommended to add a skills section as it’s a great way to bring the hiring manager’s attention to the most important skills you bring with you. The best part, this section is one of the easiest parts of your resume to customize. This also helps to feed in ATS friendly keywords to rank your resume higher. Make sure to include hard and soft skills both.

Hard Skills for CNA Resumes

Simple definition of hard skills over internet is - “Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge sets that are easily quantifiable and often acquired through education or training.” For CNA resume, include skills directly related to patient care:

• Vital signs monitoring
• Infection Control Practices
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• First Aid Administration
• Wound Dressing
• Patient hygiene and bathing
• Feeding and hydration support
• Infection control procedures
• Record keeping
• Electronic Health Records (EHR) Management
• Mobility and transfer assistance

Soft Skills Hiring Managers Expect from CNAs

Simple definition of soft skills over the internet is - “Soft skills on a resume refer to personal attributes and interpersonal skills that enable effective collaboration and communication in the workplace.” Mention these soft skills in your resume:

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Empathy
• Teamwork
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Attention to detail
• Consistency
• Adaptability

CNA Certification and Licenses to include in your Resume

Only CNAs who have taken a state-recognized training program, passed competency exams and obtained certain licenses and certification can offer essential patient care under the guidance of registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
Hence, it is extremely important to clearly showcase certification and licenses you have obtained or in process to get one.

• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): This foundational certification is essential for anyone entering the CNA field as it demonstrates a solid understanding of basic nursing skills and patient care.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification: BLS ensures that CNAs are prepared to provide basic life-saving interventions like CPR, making it crucial for handling emergency situations effectively.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS): Having ACLS can enhance a CNA's ability to assist in more advanced cardiac life support scenarios.
• Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A): This certification builds on the CNA's core skills with additional training in phlebotomy and EKG, broadening their ability to assist in patient care.
• Gerontology Certification: With the aging population, this certification is valuable for CNAs working with elderly patients, focusing on specialized care for elder health needs.
• First Aid Certification: A basic yet critical certification ensuring certificate.
• Home Health Aide Certification (HHA): Important for CNAs who wish to provide care in home settings, focusing on personalized patient care in non-hospital environments.
• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA): CNAs with CMAA can expand their skills into administrative roles, enhancing their versatility within medical environments.

CNA Resume Summary (With Examples)

Your summary is one of the most important parts of your resume. Your nurse resume summary is not just a short professional introduction at the top of your resume that gives a brief about your skills, qualifications and experience. It should give the recruiter a glimpse of your personality, your ambition and your achievements. If you have a concise, well structured summary, there is seldom the chance that the recruiter will not read further. So summary is something which makes or breaks your chance. CNAs should always have subtle personalization and should not be generic as you can find examples through google or chatgpt. We have written some simple and effective summary for your reference.

CNA Resume Summary Example

Compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant with hands-on clinical training in patient care settings. Skilled in assisting with daily living activities, monitoring vital signs, and supporting nursing teams. Committed to providing safe, respectful, and patient-centered care.

I am an empathetic and caring nursing assistant intern eager to apply my theoretical knowledge in a clinical setting. With strong communication skills and a commitment to providing exceptional patient care and support, I believe I could add substantial value in your clinic.

Recent nursing graduate with hands-on experience in patient care. Proficient in assisting with daily activities, routine duties and ensuring a safe, comfortable environment for patients. Eager to contribute to a healthcare team and learn from experienced colleagues..

I am a detail-oriented Certified Nursing Assistant with 3 years of experience in diverse healthcare settings. Skilled in patient monitoring, medication administration, and fostering a compassionate environment along with clear and concise communication for optimal patient recovery.

Experienced Certified Nursing Assistant with over 7 years in high-pressure environments. Proven track record of improving patient satisfaction through exceptional care, clear communication, and smooth teamwork in multidisciplinary teams.

Senior Certified Nursing Assistant with 12+ years of experience in patient care management. I have expertise in training newly hired staff, developing care plans for patients, and achieving patient satisfaction.

Common CNA Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Even the most qualified nursing assistants can be overlooked due to errors in their resume. There is a high chance that a hidden error on your resume is acting as a gatekeeper, stopping your application from ever reaching a real person. Below are the most common mistakes seen on nursing assistant resumes—and how to fix them.

Listing Generic Job Duties

Many candidates simply list basic responsibilities like "helped patients" or "provided care." These are too vague and do nothing to differentiate you. Instead, use action verbs and measurable results. For example:

The nursing manager wants to see impact, not list of duties.

Using Overdesigned Resume Templates

We all want to put our best foot forward and impress hiring nurse manager and first thing which comes to any fresh graduate is - how can I stand out my resume from the public?

It's always tempting to use flashy designs, icons, and multi-column layouts, but such attempts decreases your chance to get selected as – ATS reads your resume first and then human reads one.

Keep formatting clean and professional:

• Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• Avoid graphics, tables, or color-heavy designs
• Stick to a single-column format

Ignoring CNA-Specific Keywords

ATS scans for relevant keywords in your resume to rank among others. Without relevant keywords to your job description, your resume would never get selected. Always include CNA resume skills and job-specific phrases like:

• "Patient hygiene and grooming"
• "Vital signs monitoring"
• "Mobility assistance"
• "Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)"

These phrases match job descriptions and boost your visibility in applicant tracking systems.

Forgetting to List Certifications & Licensing

Certificates and licenses are must when it comes to resumes. Your CNA license, BLS/CPR certification, and HIPAA training should be listed clearly in a separate section. Hiring managers look for these to quickly understand the credentials of applicants.

Fixing these mistakes alone can significantly increase interview callbacks. You can check our blog post which deep dive into common mistakes to avoid in Nurse Resume.Make sure your CNA resume is tailored, metrics-driven, and aligned with industry standards.

Use these pointers to avoid mistakes in your CNA resume

• Highlight relevant certifications such as CNA, CPR, and first aid.
• Emphasize hands-on experience in patient care, including specific tasks like bathing, dressing, and feeding.
• Include experience with medical records management and familiarity with healthcare software.
• List soft skills such as empathy, communication, and teamwork, essential for CNAs.
• Use quantifiable achievements, like the number of patients cared for daily or efficiency improvements.
• Tailor the resume to the specific job by using keywords from the job description.

ATS Tips for CNA Resumes

If I have to give a master tip about ATS in one line, than it would be - Feed ATS what it wants.

ATS has job description, which is posted on job boards, and it wants resume which matches closest to the job description. Take the keywords, skills and duties mentioned and add them accordingly in your resume. Its not about faking but mentioning the skills, duties the way it is mentioned in the job description.

Always add keywords, skills which you already poses. Just use the language which is present job description. Never fake it.

• Use standard section headings (Summary, Skills, Experience)
• Match keywords from the job description
• Avoid columns, graphics, or icons
• Save resumes in employer-requested formats
• Keep formatting consistent and simple

Build Your CNA Resume Using an ATS-Optimized Template

Creating a CNA resume from scratch can be stressful. Using an ATS-optimized CNA resume template ensures your resume is formatted correctly, includes the right keywords, and meets employer expectations. With a nurse-focused resume builder, you can generate a professional CNA resume in minutes.

Action Verbs to Use in Certified Nursing Assistant Resume

• Assisted
• Provided
• Monitored
• Observed
• Administered
• Delivered
• Communicated
• Documented
• Facilitated
• Coordinated
• Educated
• Instructed
• Performed
• Executed
• Collaborated
• Supported
• Implemented
• Trained
• Resolved
• Evaluated
• Assessed

CNA Resume FAQs

Can I Get a CNA Job with No Experience?

Yes. Many employers hire entry-level CNAs who have completed certification and clinical training. Highlight your certifications and any caregiving roles—even informal ones. Many facilities are open to training entry-level CNAs with the right attitude.

Should I Include Clinical Hours on a CNA Resume?

Yes. Clinical hours show hands-on experience and readiness.

Do CNA Resumes Go Through ATS Systems?

Most healthcare employers use ATS systems, so formatting and keywords matter.

What Skills Matter Most on a CNA Resume?

Patient care, reliability, communication, and safety awareness.

Should I mention patient ratios?

Yes. Mentioning patient ratios shows your ability to manage workload and prioritize care.

What's the best format for a CNA resume?

Use a clean, single-column reverse chronological format. It should be ATS-friendly—no fancy graphics or fonts. Standard headers like "Experience," "Skills," and "Certifications" make your resume scannable by both software and human reviewers.

How long should a CNA resume be?

Keep it to one page unless you have over 10 years of experience. Use concise bullet points that highlight your achievements, not just duties. A clear, focused resume increases your chances of passing ATS filters and catching a hiring manager's attention quickly.

What is the best format for a Certified Nursing Assistant resume?

The best format for a Certified Nursing Assistant resume is a chronological format, which lists your work experience in reverse order, starting with your most recent job. This format highlights your career progression and relevant experience, making it easy for employers to see your qualifications at a glance.

Should I include references on my Certified Nursing Assistant resume?

It’s generally not necessary to include references directly on your Certified Nursing Assistant resume. Instead, you can note that references are available upon request. This keeps your resume concise and allows you to provide references that are most relevant to the position when asked.