What does a CNA Certified Nursing Assistant do?
Certified Nursing Assistants typically work for hospitals, assisted living facilities, medical clinics and home aide services to assist patients in daily tasks. They work closely with other medical professionals like Doctors and Registered Nurses to monitor their patients’ conditions and help them feel as comfortable as possible.
Their job is to help clean their patients’ living quarters by making beds and cleaning surfaces. They also help their patients by changing bandages and helping them sit up or move around. They may be responsible for acting as companions to patients and accompanying them on walks or other activities they enjoy.
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant skills and qualifications
Certified Nursing Assistants use many soft skills and patient care best practices to provide a safe, comfortable and healing environment for all patients. Common required skills and qualifications include:
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including customer service, patience, empathy and compassion
- Effective communication skills, including active listening, writing, speaking and reading comprehension
- Good collaboration and teamwork skills
- Fast and adaptive problem-solving abilities
- Keen attention to detail
- In-depth understanding of patient care policies and regulations
- Familiarity with symptoms and signs of improvement for a number of medical conditions
- Comfortable working with specific populations of patients, including elderly patients and those with special needs
- Physical strength and stamina
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant salary expectations
No salary found for CNA or Certified Nursing Assistant on Indeed Salaries.
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant education and training requirements
Certified Nursing Assistants must enroll and pass a state-approved education and training program before working. A minimum of a high school diploma or GED is often a requirement to enter this program. Students train during the program, often working in a hospital or nursing home setting to learn necessary role-specific skills, practice patient care techniques and develop medical knowledge as necessary. After the program, students must successfully pass their state exam for certification. Obtaining the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification places candidates on a state registry, which legally allows them to work for local organizations as a CNA.
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant experience requirements
Entry-level CNAs likely have gained directly relevant experience from their certification program. Others may have previous experience working in customer service roles or in a different role within a medical or patient care setting. Experienced CNAs may have these experiences in addition to years of serving as a CNA. For roles that work with patients with certain needs or have specific conditions, previous experience caring for these types of patients may be beneficial.
Job description samples for similar positions
If this CNA Certified Nursing Assistant job description template isn’t what you’re looking for, see our job descriptions for related positions: