Nursing Assistant Jobs Overview
Nursing assistants make a positive difference in the lives of the people in their community by helping patients with basic needs such as bathing, dressing, and eating. While nursing assistant jobs can be demanding at times, providing essential care is a very rewarding role.
Nursing assistant jobs are also in demand and can open the door for future opportunities. Many hospitals offer courses and tuition assistance to encourage career advancement. Whether you aim to become a registered nurse, supervisor, or administrator, finding the right nursing assistant job will help you ascend the healthcare career ladder.
Caring for patients in hospitals, hospice environments, and skilled nursing facilities, nursing assistants play a vital role in the healthcare field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are in high demand in most areas of the country, with employment opportunities projected to grow by 5% over the next decade.
Salaries for Nursing Assistant Jobs
Salaries for CNAs and nursing assistants vary according to your experience, qualifications, location, and work environment. Nationwide, the hourly wages for nursing assistant jobs range from $12.76 to $25.41, with $15.89 as the median hourly wage.
Here's a sample of cities in the United States that pay the highest median hourly wage for CNA and nursing assistant jobs:
When considering salaries for nursing assistants, remember that employers may offer benefits and additional incentives that add value to the overall compensation. To find out the median wage in your location, use the Monster Salary Tool.
Finding the Right Nursing Assistant Job
How do you go about finding the ideal nursing assistant position? Think about the aspects of nursing assistant jobs that you find the most appealing. Whether you want to interact one-on-one with patients or work with a team of skilled healthcare professionals, defining your goals helps you achieve them.
Next, consider what kind of work environment best suits your needs. Do you find the hustle and bustle of a busy hospital invigorating? Is working in a slower-paced setting more your style?
Your work-life balance matters, too. Are you looking for a nine-to-five position or one that offers more flexibility? Once you've identified your interests and career aspirations, it's time to start filling out job applications.
Scrutinize the Job Description
Each nursing assistant job description acts as a critical guide when looking for a position. That's where you'll find the specific tasks, duties, and responsibilities you must fulfill if you obtain the position. Read every line of the description carefully to assess whether you have the skills and qualifications to do the job.
Take note of the job's demands. If the requirements listed in the job description seem outside your experience or comfort zone, you may wish to look elsewhere. On the other hand, if the job sounds perfect, but you're unsure whether you have the right qualifications, consider getting the additional training you need to secure a similar position.
Learn About the Company’s Culture
Taking steps to determine which nursing assistant jobs match your skills, experience, and preferences is vital. Making sure that the company's culture aligns with your own is equally important.
What's their mission? What are their stated values? You can often glean this information by visiting the organization's website.
Reading client and employee reviews posted online can be helpful, too. From the company's size and management style to its reputation and track record, search for factors that give you additional insight into the organization's approach to healthcare.
Explore Growth Opportunities
While your immediate goal is to find a satisfying nursing assistant position, don't forget to keep your long-term objectives in mind. Look into opportunities for advancement within the company.
Do they offer continuing education classes, career counseling, or tuition assistance? You'll enjoy a better work experience if you know the organization supports your plans to advance your career.
Applying for Nursing Assistant Jobs
Once you're ready to apply for a nursing assistant position, scan the job description again to identify skills and qualifications to emphasize in your application. Follow the employer's precise instructions when submitting an application on Monster. From the resume and cover letter to references and proof of certification, include every document the organization requests.
Craft a Compelling Resume
Keywords are effective when it comes to writing resumes. If the job description in the application highlights the importance of patience and compassion, accentuate these qualities when writing your resume. If communication skills are emphasized as a primary qualification, stress the importance of listening to patients and reporting concerns to the healthcare team.
As far as the resume format goes, keeping it simple is the best strategy. A traditional white background and standard lettering win the day over distracting photos, text boxes, or fancy fonts.
When listing your nursing skills, point out your areas of expertise rather than focusing on the specific tasks you perform as a nursing assistant. For example, write "diagnostic testing" instead of listing each procedure. You can go into further detail in the section where you describe your professional experience as this nursing assistant resume sample shows.
Check for formatting, spelling, or grammar errors in your resume once you’ve created a draft. If you need help crafting a resume you can count on to impress your potential employer, consider using the services provided by Monster's professional resume writing experts.
Write an Engaging Cover Letter
If asked to submit a cover letter with your application, seize the opportunity to prove why you're the right candidate for the position by emphasizing the qualities highlighted in the job description. Give examples of your unique skills, and share lessons you learned from personal experience. Use your research about the company to demonstrate that you understand and share the organization's values and culture.
Like resumes, cover letters are most effective when brief and to the point. Aim to sum up your skills, qualifications, and experience in three to four carefully crafted paragraphs. For an example directly related to the healthcare field, take a look at our sample cover letter for nursing jobs.
How to Submit Your Application
After a final check to confirm that your documents are in order, the information is up to date, and the text is free of spelling errors, sign up for a free Monster account to submit your application. Once you've completed your profile, upload your resume so that you can apply for additional nursing assistant jobs from your account.
Follow Up on Your Application
You've filled out all your documentation, checked and double-checked it for errors, and sent in the application for a nursing assistant job. Now what? We have plenty of tips on how to cope with the "black hole" in the application process, the period between submitting your materials and hearing back from the employer.
Wait one to two weeks before following up with a call or email. Identify the appropriate person to contact within the company. You can call the Human Resources (HR) department to ask for this information. Don't hesitate to inquire when you can expect to hear back from the employer.
Whether you follow up with an email or a phone call, keep the message short and simple. Express your continued interest in the position. If you don't hear back within a week or two, you may wish to follow up with another brief message.
Interview Tips for Nursing Assistant Jobs
It's a great feeling when you receive notification that you've gotten an interview for a nursing assistant job. Channel that positive energy into preparing for the all-important meeting.
Start by learning everything you can about your potential employer. Browse their website, read up on recent achievements, and search the internet for news articles. Understanding how this particular healthcare organization works demonstrates your ongoing interest in the job and increases your chances of getting it.
Understanding the Interview Process
Once you've gained a better understanding of the company's values and approach to healthcare, find out what you can about the organization's interview process. Will you be meeting with a single person or a panel of interviewers? Will there be more than one round of interviews?
Familiarize yourself with common interview formats so that you're ready to respond to questions appropriately. Get started by reading about competency-based and behavioral interview questions.
How to Ace the Interview
You’ll want to keep in mind your past experience in other healthcare positions to present examples at your interview. Also, be prepared to answer questions specific to the nursing assistant position, such as:
- Why do you want to be a nursing assistant?
- What is the first thing you do when meeting a patient?
- How do you react when a patient becomes difficult?
- Where do you see yourself ultimately in the nursing profession?
How do you answer other work-related questions? Master the STAR method. An acronym that stands for "Situation, Task, Action, Result," the STAR technique offers an uncomplicated way to answer any question with a brief but compelling story with you in the starring role.
It's hard to overemphasize the importance of making a great first impression on the day of your interview. Start by dressing appropriately for the occasion in your best business casual attire. Arrive early for the interview with copies of relevant paperwork such as your resume, references, and any nursing certification documentation if necessary.
Interview Follow-Up Strategies
Follow up the interview the next business day by sending the person who interviewed you a brief thank-you email that demonstrates your ongoing interest in the nursing assistant position. Try to refer to specific topics mentioned in the interview, emphasizing your qualifications for the job. If you don't hear back from the organization within two weeks, keep the lines of communication open with a follow-up call.
How to Respond to a Job Offer
A sheepish grin, a shout of joy, a sigh of relief — it's hard to predict how you'll react when an employer offers you a nursing assistant position. It's natural to feel some hesitancy, too.
As a professional courtesy, yes, you should respond quickly. That doesn't necessarily mean you must say "yes" to the job. Phone or email the organization within 24 hours of the offer to express your gratitude for the opportunity, letting them know how much time you'll need to make your final decision.
The first things to examine after a job offer are the terms and conditions of the contract. What's the salary? What benefits does the company provide? How will the schedule impact your work-life balance?
Make sure that you understand the full breadth of the job's responsibilities. Do they align with your expectations and help you attain your future goals? If there's any uncertainty about any aspect of the position, contact the company for clarification.
If aspects of the job offer fall short of your expectations, consider negotiating with the employer for improvements. Start by researching salaries, benefits, and responsibilities for nursing assistant jobs in your area. Whatever your final decision, thank the employer for recognizing your value as a nursing assistant.
Career Paths for CNAs and Nursing Assistants
With multiple job opportunities currently available in healthcare, CNA and nursing assistant jobs often serve as springboards to higher positions. If you're looking to advance your career, nursing schools offer the next step up. Here are three types of nursing jobs you may qualify for after attending nursing school.
Career advancements are also plentiful if you find the administrative aspect of nursing more appealing than hands-on care. Here are three examples of positions that you can attain with additional experience and training.
Similar Occupations
Are you interested in learning more about healthcare roles similar to nursing assistant jobs? Here's a sample of the many options available to you.