Write a Great Resume & Get Hired

As anyone who has ever applied for a job knows, a well-written resume is a powerful tool that can help translate your skills, talents, and qualities to a prospective employer quickly. Writing a great resume isn’t difficult, but you should take the time to list your education, any health-related experience and your future goals for your career. Whether you’re approaching your first job or have worked as a professional certified nursing assistant (CNA) for years, your resume should reflect your dedication to safely care for your patients with compassion and dignity.

Why You’re the Best Person for the Job: Qualities and Skills

If you’re a seasoned CNA transitioning to a new facility, ensure that you list the qualities that make you a benefit to the patients of your prospective nursing home or hospital. A powerful resume can decrease your competition and make you stand out when you list skills such as:

• Respectful of patients’ privacy during care
• Friendly and helpful with patients and their family members
• Excellent time management skills and highly organized
• Protects patient’s personal and medical information
• Reports changes in patient status to nurses and doctors promptly and effectively

As a new CNA, your resume can provide a great advantage over even the most experienced applicants. Although you can’t promote your experience, you can display your understanding of how important your position is to your patients’ health and safety. List your knowledge on your resume that you’ve learned from school such as:

• Provides dignified and compassionate care to patients
• Practices excellent handwashing techniques and infection control
• Ensures meals are appropriate for patients with allergies or conditions
• Provides a safe and comfortable environment for patients

Education and Experience

Besides the name of your CNA School and a list of the courses you completed, include any continuing education courses, certificate programs, or any health-related experience you’ve accomplished. If you’re new to the healthcare field, but have taken care of an ill family member or friend, list that experience as part of your education. Reveal what you’ve learned from caring for a loved one in bullet format such as:

• Provided meals and assisted with feeding
• Performed bed baths or assisted with showering
• Transferred from bed to chair
• Called the doctor when needed

As an experienced CNA, you can simply list your duties and experience in a manner that shows you’re an asset to your prospective employer. Your resume may answer your interviewer’s questions in advance by providing relevant information about your knowledge, for example:

• Communicates well with peers and the healthcare team
• Encourages teamwork and frequently helps staff with assignments
• Works well under pressure and manages frequent interruptions
• Performs patient care with safety and comfort

Future Goals and Objectives

Your future goals define your dedication to caring for patients and offers insight on your commitment to nursing care. Whether you’re hoping to become a licensed nurse, be promoted to a certified medication assistant (CMA) or train in phlebotomy, your prospective employer wants to know if you’re truly interested in a healthcare career. If you’re considering an educational objective for your future, simply list it on your resume, such as:

• My objective is to complete the CMA program to improve my education and advance my career
• My future goal is to become an LPN
• My plan is to become a preceptor or instructor for new CNAs

Remember. A good resume can impress the interviewer and encourage them to select you for the job. For a professional resume look, always use black type on white paper to ensure better readability. Don’t try to impress your interviewer with too many pages; one or two summarized pages can make a positive impact on your job prospects.