Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Job Description Template

A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, works under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN). They take vital signs of residents and patients, and may assist with basic activities of daily living such as eating and bathing. With ongoing nationwide nursing shortages , these clinicians tend to be in high demand. That’s why it’s important to have a well-written CNA job description, so your facility can stand out from the crowd as you search for caring, capable, and dedicated CNAs.

Your time is valuable, so let us help you find the right candidates for your CNA staffing needs. The template below is optimized with keywords and terms to boost performance, but it’s also customizable for your specific facility. The sections provide tips and sample language that you can use for your job post.

Be sure to pair your job description with a set of tailored CNA interview questions to find the best candidate among your applicants. Also, consider browsing current CNA job postings for additional ideas on how to advertise your position in a way that’s enticing and competitive.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Tips: The introduction to your CNA job description should consist of one to two paragraphs that highlight your working environment, core values, and a little about you as an employer. Take this opportunity to highlight your residence or medical facility and why you stand apart from the crowd. Include a few appealing benefits in the beginning of your description, such as shift flexibility or free continuing education, to get the attention of applicants. This is your opportunity to market your facility, so make your pitch.

Here’s where you also want to clearly describe the position you’re looking to fill. Be sure to provide details about the working environment, as the duties of CNAs can differ broadly by facility. You may also want to discuss the location of your facility and anything nearby that may be of interest to candidates, such as gyms, restaurants, or bus stops.

Template:

Ready to take your CNA career to the next level? Here at [facility name], we’re looking to hire an experienced CNA to join our pediatric transplant team. Qualified applicants will have at least two years of CNA experience with a similar patient population.

As our newest nursing professional, you’d be expected to work three 12-hour shifts per week in our top-rated acute care children’s hospital. We’re looking to recruit a clinician who is curious, compassionate, and innovative, and offer competitive salaries and robust employee benefits to those who have what it takes.

Located in the heart of Richmond, [facility name] offers staff an exciting place to work and grow as a clinician. We’ve been recognized as Virginia’s “#1 Pediatric Transplant Center” for three years and are looking to expand our services outside of the city center. If this sounds like a position you’d be interested in, continue reading as we outline the qualifications and logistics of the position below.

Benefits

Tips: Keep your readers engaged by following your introduction with more detail about your employee benefits. If your introduction was the elevator pitch for your benefits, use this section to provide more reasons why candidates would want to work for you. As you describe your benefits, be careful to avoid any language which could be misleading. It’s a good idea to run your list by your human resources team before you publish.

Template:

• Medical and dental benefits for employees and qualifying family members
• Retirement plans and 401(k) options
• Generous paid vacation/holiday/family leave
• Malpractice insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $4,000 per year
• Free continuing education (CE) courses

CNA Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: After telling candidates about the benefits you have to offer, they’re going to want to know more details about the position. When crafting a job description for CNAs, use this section to highlight the typical day-to-day tasks for the position. As you do, be sure to start each line with active verbs, be precise, and order the list by starting with the most important duties for CNAs at your facility.

Template:

CNAs at our organization are expected to perform the following duties:

• Assist residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), including but not limited to personal hygiene, toileting, grooming, and mobility
• Help serve and feed meals to residents as needed
• Check and record vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and reporting abnormal findings to the nursing chain-of-command
• Observe residents throughout the shift and relay abnormal findings or concerns to nurses and other staff as necessary
• Maintain a hygienic environment by cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, changing linens, and keeping resident rooms well-kept
• Transfer residents in and out of beds and wheelchairs, onto exam tables, and reposition them as needed
• Communicate with family members and other visitors, serving as a conduit between residents and healthcare staff
• Provide companionship and offer a compassionate ear to residents as needed

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: When crafting a CNA job description, salary details should be listed up front, even if it’s a pay range. Doing so not only helps to filter candidates on the front end by setting expectations, but it can also save a lot of time on the back end as you negotiate with candidates. If you offer additional forms of compensation, such as travel pay or hazard pay, you should also specify that in this section.

You’ll want to be specific about the shifts that are available to candidates and whether there’s any flexibility in scheduling. This is almost always an important factor for nursing professionals, so addressing it in your job description can be a nice incentive to apply. As you describe the available shifts in your CNA job description, remember that candidates may also want to know about nurse-to-patient ratios, shift rotations, and what the unit culture is like.

Template:

• CNA pay range: $19-$40/hour
• Overtime, holiday pay, and bonuses available
• Bi-weekly or weekly pay periods
• Flexible shift options available Monday through Friday
• Nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:3

CNA Qualifications and Skills

Tips: As you build out this section, be mindful of the fact that candidates may not apply if they feel they’re missing any single requirement. That’s why it’s important to only list the necessary requirements. If you list any preferred requirements, be sure to identify them as “preferred” and not “required” in your CNA job description. Skills, licensing, and educational requirements are key items to include in this section.

Template:

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED
• Certification from an accredited CNA training course
• Successful completion of a background check and drug screening upon hire
• Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time and lift up to 50 pounds
• Basic understanding of relevant nursing care and medical terminology
• Warm, personable, and professional bedside manner
• Effective oral, written, and reading communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong multitasking skills
• Previous experience with the Epic charting system
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Call to Action

Tips: Your CNA job description will not only attract potential applicants to apply but will also show them how to apply if you include a call to action (or CTA). For example, tell prospective CNAs whether you’d like them to submit their application via email or by clicking an “apply” button on your website. If they’ve come this far, then you want to make it easy for them to apply.

Template:

Ready to join our team? Learn more about our benefits and flexible work schedules by submitting your application online with us today.

Fill Your Vacancies With Qualified Nursing Staff

Crafting the perfect CNA job description is a great way to attract qualified candidates, but first you’ll need to make sure it’s seen by the best in the industry. Post your position on the nation’s #1 healthcare hiring board to start matching with vetted, high-caliber professionals today.

IntelyCare writer Katherine Zheng, PhD, BSN, contributed to the research and writing of this article.