GNA Resume Writing Tips and Sample
As the elderly population increases in the U.S., so will the need for nursing professionals trained to provide quality care. Geriatric nursing assistants (GNAs) are among those professionals who will be in demand. Despite this growing need, it’s still important to prepare a competitive application when applying for new positions. Below are some tips for writing a GNA resume and a sample that you can use as a guide while you write your own.
Prioritize Relevant Experience
Your resume should highlight your work experiences that most closely relate to the role, while staying within two pages. If you’ve worked as a nursing assistant outside of geriatrics, don’t hesitate to omit that experience if including it will cause your resume to be too long. On the other hand, you can certainly include general nursing assistant jobs if you have little to no geriatric experience. Either way, highlight tasks you would find in a GNA job description, such as:
- Reality orientation
- Assistance with daily living activities
- Bowel movement pattern tracking
- Checking for skin tears
- Monitoring for memory loss or other signs of decline
In addition, include a mix of hard and soft skills in your resume summary. Give the hiring team a glimpse of who you are and what you’re capable of. Your resume summary gives the reader a preview of what’s to come, so making a great first impression here is key. You can go into further detail in your GNA cover letter.
Pay Attention to Detail
Be sure to check for any grammar or spelling errors. Technology can be helpful in weeding out these issues, but make sure you double check your resume or ask a trusted friend to proofread your resume to ensure it’s all set. This eye for detail indicates that you’ll apply the same keen eye to your patients.
The hiring team will likely be sifting through numerous resumes, so format your resume to facilitate easy skimming. It’s common to add a space between each section and bold font for each section title. Other formatting choices — like color and font — are up to your discretion.
Quantify Your Experience
Evaluating resumes requires a lot of reading, so mix it up by using numbers to make your resume more memorable. Plus, it gives the hiring manager a more concrete idea of the extent of your nursing assistant skills and experience. Quantifying your years of experience and your patient loads are examples of ways in which you can do this.
Geriatric Nursing Assistant Resume Sample
Wondering where to get started with your GNA resume? Reading sample resumes is a great place to start. Read through our resume example below to see our advice in action.
Natasha Toussaint, BSN, RN
Cobalt, MD
555-555-5555 | ntoussaint@email.com | linkedin.com/ntoussaint
Detail-oriented and empathetic geriatric nursing assistant with three years of experience seeking a full-time position. Committed to ensuring patients feel safe and supported. Upholds teamwork, transparency, and accountability when collaborating with coworkers.
Education
Robin’s Egg University College of Nursing, Royal, MD, 20XX
Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Work Experience
Geriatric Nursing Assistant, Azul Home, Navy, MD, June 20XX–Present
- Responsible for assisting with ADLs such as bathing, eating, and toileting for 20 geriatric patients per shift.
- Take vital signs and document results.
- Communicate abnormal vital signs, new skin tears, and behavior to the registered nurse.
- Orient patients to person, place, and time when necessary.
- Check bowel movement tracker and report patients who went without BMs for more than three days to the nurse.
Geriatric Nursing Assistant, Ultramarine Community, Teal, MD, May 20XX–May 20XX
- Assisted 10 patients with range of motion exercises daily and communicated progress to the nurse.
- Took vital signs and promptly alerted the nurse of abnormal results.
- Monitored for memory loss and decreasing motor function.
- Reported signs of decline to nurse.
- Administered albuterol breathing treatments and oral medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen under nurse supervision.
Skills
- Conversational Spanish, fluent Haitian Creole
Licenses and Certifications
- Basic life support (BLS)
- Certified geriatric nursing assistant
GNA Salary
The average nursing assistant salary is $36,220 per year. The amount you earn can be affected by facility type, which region of the country you live in, and your years of job experience. The highest-paying states for nursing assistants are:
When Your GNA Resume Is Ready, Do This Next
The first step to landing your dream job is to write a strong resume. Ready to put it into action? Search for GNA jobs that fit your needs on IntelyCare today.