Starting Your CNA Career in 2025

First off—congratulations on choosing to begin your healthcare career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). It’s a big step toward a rewarding profession. But before you step onto the floor, you’ll need a resume that gets you noticed.

The internet is overflowing with “resume advice,” but most of it is confusing, outdated, or about as useful as a broken blood pressure cuff. The real question is: how do you write a CNA resume that actually gets interviews in 2025?

Whether you’re a new graduate, switching into healthcare, or ready for a fresh start, your resume needs to highlight your clinical skills, compassion, and professionalism—and it has to be formatted to get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) as well as human recruiters.

And if your idea of a “professional resume” is still that old Word template from 2016? Time for an upgrade. Employers’ expectations have evolved, and your resume should too.

In this guide, you’ll see five CNA resume examples for different career situations, plus practical tips to avoid common mistakes and land interviews faster. And if you want to skip the formatting headache altogether, you can use Nurse Resume Builder, a tool built specifically for healthcare resumes that helps you create an ATS-proof document in minutes.

Why a Great CNA Resume Matters in 2025

Here’s the reality: CNA jobs are competitive, and hiring managers are looking for candidates who stand out. By 2025, nearly all hospitals and long-term care facilities use ATS software to screen applications. That means if your resume isn’t optimized, it could be filtered out before anyone reads it.

Here’s what makes CNA resumes unique:

  • Hands-on patient care matters most. Your ability to bathe, transfer, feed, and comfort patients is what employers want to see.
  • Soft skills are critical. Communication, patience, and reliability aren’t “extras”—they’re part of the job.
  • Certifications are mandatory. Your CNA license, CPR/BLS, and any additional training should be front and center.

CNA Resume Essentials (Before the Examples)

Every CNA resume should include these core sections:

  • Professional Summary: 2–3 lines that highlight your passion and strengths.
  • Certifications & Licensure: Your CNA certificate, CPR/BLS, and state credentials.
  • Experience: Paid jobs, clinical rotations, or internships—include specifics.
  • Skills: Technical (vitals, documentation, mobility) and soft skills (empathy, teamwork).
  • Education: Training program and graduation date.
  • Formatting: ATS-friendly layout with keywords from the job description.

Top 5 CNA Resume Examples for 2025

Example #1: The New Grad, No Experience

Professional Summary
Compassionate CNA graduate with recent certification and hands-on training in both hospital and long-term care settings. Eager to deliver safe, high-quality care as part of a collaborative healthcare team.

Certifications

  • Certified Nursing Assistant, Texas (License #123456), 2025
  • BLS, American Heart Association, 2024

Education
Diploma in Nursing Assisting | Dallas Health Institute, Dallas, TX | 2025

Clinical Experience
Student CNA | Sunny Meadows LTC | Dallas, TX | Feb–May 2025

  • Assisted 10+ residents daily with ADLs: bathing, feeding, mobility
  • Documented vital signs and intake/output in EHR
  • Praised for patience and gentle communication

Skills

  • Vitals monitoring
  • Hygiene & toileting
  • Safe transfers
  • Teamwork & compassion

Why it works: Even without paid experience, this resume highlights clinical rotations, licensure, and soft skills.

Example #2: Long-Term Care Specialist

Professional Summary
Dedicated CNA with experience in nursing homes and assisted living, recognized for maintaining dignity and comfort for elderly residents.

Certifications

  • CNA, Florida (Active)
  • BLS/CPR, Red Cross, valid through 2026

Experience
CNA | Golden Years Senior Living | Tampa, FL | 2022–Present

  • Supported 20+ residents with ADLs, including dementia patients
  • Led activity sessions to encourage engagement
  • Reduced fall incidents by 12% through careful monitoring

Skills

  • Dementia & memory care
  • Mobility assistance
  • Family communication

Why it works: Highlights specialized experience and measurable achievements.

Example #3: Hospital CNA (Acute Care Focus)

Professional Summary
Adaptable CNA with acute care experience in med-surg and post-op units. Skilled in patient monitoring, teamwork, and maintaining infection control standards.

Certifications

  • CNA, California, #CA987654 (Active)
  • BLS, AHA, exp. 2025

Experience
CNA | St. Francis Hospital | Los Angeles, CA | 2023–Present

  • Monitored post-op patients and assisted with wound care
  • Transported patients safely between departments
  • Trained new CNAs on infection control protocols

Skills

  • Vitals & wound care
  • Infection prevention
  • Transport safety

Why it works: Shows adaptability in a hospital setting and emphasizes collaboration with RNs.

Example #4: Home Health Aide Hybrid

Professional Summary
CNA and Home Health Aide with 3+ years supporting clients in home environments. Reliable, independent, and trusted by families.

Certifications

  • CNA, Illinois (Active)
  • HHA Certificate, 2022
  • CPR/First Aid, AHA

Experience
CNA/HHA | Compassionate Care Home Services | Chicago, IL | 2021–2024

  • Supported 5+ clients daily with ADLs, meal prep, and mobility
  • Reported changes in condition to nurses, preventing ER visits
  • Built strong rapport with families and case managers

Skills

  • Medication reminders
  • Meal planning & light housekeeping
  • Documentation

Why it works: Demonstrates independence and family trust—key in home care roles.

Example #5: Career Changer / Second Career CNA

Professional Summary
Former retail manager turned CNA with a passion for patient care and team support. Brings strong communication and organizational skills to healthcare.

Certifications

  • CNA, Pennsylvania (Active)
  • BLS/CPR, valid 2025

Experience
Sales Manager | Target | Harrisburg, PA | 2019–2023

  • Led 12-person team and resolved customer escalations
  • Trained new hires and improved customer satisfaction scores

Education
CNA Certificate | Harrisburg Medical Training | PA | 2024

Skills

  • Patient communication
  • Time management
  • Team collaboration

Why it works: Translates prior career skills into strengths relevant to CNA work.

Tips to Land Your First CNA Job

  • Customize each resume: Use keywords from the job description.
  • Lead with your license: Employers want to see it right away.
  • Show your “why”: Highlight compassion, dignity, and care for patients.
  • Keep formatting simple: ATS can’t read fancy designs.
  • Proofread carefully: One typo can make you look careless.

How Nurse Resume Builder Helps

If writing your resume feels overwhelming, tools like Nurse Resume Builder can simplify the process:

  • ATS-proof templates
  • Smart skill suggestions
  • One-click PDF/Word export
  • Options for new grads, career changers, and experienced CNAs

Common CNA Resume Mistakes

  • Using vague duties like “assisted patients” instead of specific actions
  • Burying your CNA certification at the bottom
  • Over-designing with colors or graphics (ATS can’t read them)
  • Skipping soft skills like empathy and teamwork
  • Leaving out clinical rotations or volunteer work

FAQ: CNA Resumes in 2025

Q: What if I don’t have paid CNA experience?
A: List clinical rotations, volunteer roles, or related caregiving jobs.

Q: Should I list patient ratios?
A: Yes—employers like to see numbers.

Q: Are resume templates okay?
A: Yes, as long as they’re ATS-friendly.

Q: Can I include jobs outside healthcare?
A: Absolutely—retail, hospitality, and customer service can show transferable skills.

Final Thoughts: Your CNA Career Starts Here

Landing your first CNA job is an important milestone—and your resume is the key to unlocking interviews. By using these examples, customizing your application, and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to starting your healthcare career.

If you want a faster path, try Nurse Resume Builder—built specifically for nurses and CNAs, it takes the guesswork out of resume writing and helps you create a polished, professional resume in minutes.

Your next step in healthcare is waiting. Start building your future today.

Topics #Certified Nursing Assistant #Nurse Resume Builder