CNA Job Description: Duties, Skills & Salary (Hospital, SNF)

Certified nursing assistants deliver the hands-on daily care patients depend on - bathing, feeding, mobility, vitals - under the supervision of nurses. CNAs spend more time with patients than anyone else on the unit, so they are the first to notice when something changes.

Duties vary by employer and shift, so always check the individual posting. Typical responsibilities:

• Help patients with activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding
• Take and record vital signs, intake/output and weights
• Turn, reposition and transfer patients safely (gait belts, lifts); prevent falls and pressure injuries
• Answer call lights promptly and round hourly
• Change linens and keep rooms clean and stocked
• Observe and report changes in condition to the nurse immediately
• Document care in the EHR (Epic, PointClickCare)
• Support admissions, discharges and transport

• Completion of a state-approved nurse aide program and passing the state competency exam (certification/registry listing)
• BLS/CPR certification for most employers
• Physical capability: lifting, standing and walking through 8- or 12-hour shifts
• Background check and health screening; compassion that lasts a whole shift

• Patience and dignity in personal care
• Safe transfer and mobility technique
• Accurate vitals and documentation
• Noticing and reporting changes fast
• Teamwork with nurses, PCTs and therapy staff

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median pay of $42,260 a year (May 2025) for nursing assistants, with about 203,300 openings a year projected for nursing assistants and orderlies combined. Hospitals and night/weekend shifts generally pay above the median; long-term care volume hiring makes the role one of the fastest healthcare starts.

Adjust every number to your own record before you use these:

• Cared for 10 to 12 residents per shift with zero pressure-injury incidents on assignment in 18 months
• Recorded vitals and I/O for a 36-bed unit with 99% documentation accuracy on audit
• Answered call lights within 4 minutes on average (unit target: 7)
• Named employee of the month twice for family communication

Browse live CNA and healthcare support jobs on Ethic Leaf's Healthcare sector page, and see the Patient Care Technician resume example for a related sample. No service guarantees a job.

• How long does it take to become a CNA? State-approved programs commonly run 4 to 12 weeks, plus the state exam - one of the fastest paid entries into healthcare.
• What is the difference between a CNA and a PCT? PCTs add skills like EKG and phlebotomy on top of CNA care; hospitals often hire CNAs into PCT roles and train the extra competencies.
• Is CNA a stepping stone? Yes - many RNs and LPNs start as CNAs, and employers often fund the next credential; put your registry status and unit experience at the top of the resume.