A CNA resume that shows your care skills and your certification
Care facilities hire CNAs they can trust with daily care and trust to show up. Your resume should show that your certification is active, what kind of setting you have worked in, and how many residents or patients you looked after. This builder does that in one clean page.
Free to build and preview. $4.99 to download the PDF.
Dependable certified nursing assistant with 4 years of experience in long-term care. Gentle and patient with residents who have dementia, trained in safe lifts and transfers, and known for steady attendance. Comfortable working nights and weekends.
- Provide daily care to 10 residents on a 40-bed unit, including bathing, dressing, and meals
- Take and record vital signs and report changes to the charge nurse right away
- Use mechanical lifts and gait belts safely, with no reported injuries to residents or staff
- Support residents with dementia through calm routines and familiar activities
- Cared for clients in their homes, including meals, light housekeeping, and medication reminders
- Kept daily care notes for families and nurses
- Maintained a perfect attendance record across 20 months
Activities of daily living, Vital signs, Safe patient transfers, Dementia care, Charting and documentation, Infection control, Compassionate communication, Night and weekend availability
- Certified Nursing Assistant, state registry, active
- CPR and Basic Life Support, current
Build your cna resume and cover letter
Edit the sample with your own details. The preview updates as you type, and your work is saved in this browser.
What to put on a cna resume
Put certification and registry status first. Facilities check that your CNA certification is active before anything else. State it clearly, along with CPR or BLS.
Name the setting. Nursing home, hospital, assisted living, and home care all work differently. List which you have worked in and how many residents or patients you cared for.
Show safety and reliability with specifics. Safe lifts, no injuries, and steady attendance are exactly what a director of nursing wants. Say them in numbers or plain facts.
Describe the care in simple terms. Daily living care, vital signs, charting, and special populations like dementia or rehabilitation tell a facility what you can handle.
New CNA? Use your training hours. Federal rules require at least 75 hours of training, and many states require more. List your program, hours, and clinical placement.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaving off whether your certification is active or on the state registry
- Using only soft phrases like "caring" without examples
- Not mentioning which shifts you can work
Words employers look for
activities of daily living, vital signs, patient transfers, dementia care, CPR certified, state registry, long-term care, infection control, documentation, reliable attendance. Use the ones that are true for you, in the same words the job posting uses.
Sample cover letter
This is the letter that comes with the sample. Open the builder and switch to the Cover letter tab to write yours.
Read the sample letter for Certified Nursing Assistant
Dear Director of Nursing,
I am writing to apply for the Certified Nursing Assistant position at Oakridge Rehabilitation Center. I have four years of experience in long-term care and an active CNA certification on the state registry.
At Maple Grove Care Center, I care for ten residents on a 40-bed unit, take and record vital signs, and use mechanical lifts safely. I take particular care with residents who have dementia, and families often tell me they feel their loved one is in good hands.
I am available nights and weekends and have a strong attendance record. Thank you for considering my application. I would welcome the chance to meet with you.
Sincerely,
Tiana Brooks, CNA
Questions
What should a CNA resume include?
Contact details, a short summary, your certification and CPR status, your work history with setting and resident count, and skills like vital signs and safe transfers.
Can I get hired as a CNA without experience?
Yes, many facilities hire newly certified CNAs. Show your training program, clinical hours, and any care experience, including caring for family members.
Should I mention my shift availability?
Yes. Facilities often struggle to fill nights and weekends, so saying you can work them can help your application.
Do I need a cover letter?
Not always, but a short one that mentions the facility by name and why you want to work there makes you stand out.